HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11598, 5 December 1899, Page 5

HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODS.

COMMUNICATION INTERETJPTED.

(Per United Press Association.) HOKITIivA, December 4.

• Heavy floods throughout the district on Saturday and yesterday Laife done considerable damage. Portion of the Otira Gorge road has been carried away, and U-affic with Christchurch .is interrupted. The repairs will take some time. ■ The county works are also damaged. Portien of one road has been carried away, stopping traffic, while bridges and culverts are also damaged. It is feared that there will be considerable damage done south, the rainfall having been very heavy. While driving, to market on Saturday a settler's wife and son were capsized on Kokatahi road, wnich was flooded, and the occupants were carried down some chains, but were 'stopped by a large tree. Some young men swam to their assistance, but an hour, elapsed before the rescue boat could be utilised. The woman had a very narrow escape, and but for the plucky efforts of her son would have been drowned.

It. is doubtful at present whether -the.special messenger the necessary, papers south for the licensing, poll on Wednesday ' can reachT'Ms "destm&fion lv tiffie, owing to the flooded state of the rivers. If he does, his task will be attended with, great personal risk-. ,- •

, "WELLINGTON; December. 4, Mr Ronayne, general manager of railways, has received a telegram that the Grey district is in flood. Some damage has been "done" to the Midland line near Jackson's hut. The interruption, will be got over to-day. -

December 4. An extraordinary downpour of rain fell between 8? o'clock last night and 11 a.m. today. -Greeks and rivers rose rapidly,- arid the'railway, service is out of joint, the express from Dunedin not being expected to .get through before midnight, while the train from Kingston is fast between two breaks near Five Rivers. Nothing can ba run on the Tapanui line, while at Waikaka, Waipahi, and Arthurton passengers had to be transferred .owing to washouts. There are .also serious damages on branch lines. Beyond the-delay the passengers were not much inconvenienced by the stoppage of trains, as means were taken to bring them on. The rivers are very highj and are likely to'rise still higher. From Garston, on the Mataura, at 3 p.m.. it was reported to be the biggest flood since 1878.. .Rain was still falling heavily in the afternoon up-country, and losses to stock seem inevitable. "'

(Prom Our Own Correspondent.) : . ARROWTOWN, December 4. There has been a heavy downpour of rain since early morning, arid the rivers are in flood. The water from.the lakes will be due at Cromwell before to-morrow morning. It is still raining, but there are signs of the weather clearing up. .-■ . : --WAIPORI, December 4. * There is a big flood here. The water is in Caudwell's ibilliard room and in several dwellings. •;-.•■■- >•■ ~-.-• •

'~LAWRENCE, December 4. Heavy rain has fallen here for the pasf? 14 hours. The creeks are in flood.