THE WAIPORI DISTRICT.

Otago Witness, Issue 846, 15 February 1868, Page 5

THE WAIPORI DISTRICT.

Our Lawrence correspondent, writing on Friday evening, says :—: —

The first reliable news I have received from Waipori, came to hand this evening. From a gentleman arrived here, I learn that the flood has also done much damage at Waipori, but only to the buildings on the south side of the river. In most of these buildings the water rose to a foot or more in height, causing the storekeepers on that side of the river to remove their goods +o a higher level, and retreat themselves across the bridge. Constable Dunn caused the turnstiles on the bridge to be removed, to enable persons to place their goods in safety on the north side.

About 3 a.m. on the 4th, the flood was at its highest, and the inhabitants of the south side removed in a body across the bridge. One serio-comic incident happened to a well-known character, who, finding himself afloat in his bunk, knocked

l a' boli through the iron roof /arid" there; ;ro;d»ted for several hours, '^'help was at han<£ k All the ' fluming, " joining. r gear, faces, and dams, are swept away, in fact the 'flat is 'again levelled, and business is* at' a 'standstill. ' Kelly arid Party** dam was "the only one that stood. The water was pouring over the embankment in a cataract, and as it had only recently been erected, fears were entertained for its safety, but w« are glad to say that it' bore the strain ; well. The escort, of course, will' be low, for the miners had no sooner got clear of one flood, than this one ' came and much damped the ardor of- that most hopeful clasa — the miners. Many who were just beginning to get returns, are left now totally destitute, unable to find the means to open up their claims again.