PALMERSTON AND WAIHEMO COUNTY. SERIOUS LOSS OF STOCK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1813, 20 August 1886, Page 18

PALMERSTON AND WAIHEMO COUNTY. SERIOUS LOSS OF STOCK.

Palmerston, August 18. Heavy rain has fallen continuously for the past four days, with a north-east wind blowing. The Shag river is in full flood, and all the creeks likewise. Parties living on the low ground here had to leave their dwellings last night, others were compelled to pass the night on tables or anything above tho reach of the flood. The river is rising fast, and present indications point to the greatest flood ever experienced here, and heavy losses will result. Mr William Robertson has lost 1600 sheep from the Bushy Park flat ; Messrs Muir Bros, some 200, mostly valuable stud sheep. Other losses are reported, but nothing definite can be ascertained.

The county clerk has just received a telegram from Mr Bell, county chairman, that the Naseby road is impassable. Several culverts have been swept away ; whilst the road at the Bluff is washed away, leaving a chasm 40ft wide. Mr Bell also instructs the clerk to notify that the road is closed for traffic, and cautioning travellers to be careful after passing the

Grange. Mr Bell could get no farther than Sweetwater Creek, it being impassable. Culverts have disappeared and slips taken place in all directions. In fact the true state of matters cannot be even guessed at until the flood subsides, of which _ at present there is not the slightest hope ; indeed quite the reverse is the present outlook. No trains from the south have arrived since 4 p.m. yesterday. THE OAMARU DISTRICT. Oamaru, August 18. The floods have not done so much damage in this district as might have been anticipated from the heavy fall of rain which has occurred. Communication on the Ngapara and Kurow lines of railway has not been interrupted, although the water in many places is level with the railway line. The greatest damage will be to stock and to the crops. A number of old stock which had been reduced by the late scarcity of feed have perished, not having been able to withstand the inclemency of the weather, but their value was not great. A number of early lambs have also perished, but stock generally, so far as reports to hand indicate, have not suffered much. The rain was not falling so heavily between 3 and 8 o'clock this evening, but its now falling as heavily as ever. Some little damage has been done in town by landslips, and a few houses in the low -lying places have suffered, but this is comparatively trifling. The damage to the crops will be occasioned by the water lying on the surface and by the soil being washed away on hilly districts, but this is not estimated to amount to much. The express train which left for the south at 3.20 could not reach Palmerston, having been stopped by a landslip near Shag Point, and has not yet returned to Oamaru. Timabu, August 17. The weather for the last few days has been simply execrable, and residents whose dwelling houses are fixed on the low-lying parts of the town and suburbs are suffering much inconvenience on account of the excess of wet. So far no floods of any consequence have occurred in town or immediate district, the various water-courses and culverts being fully adequate to carry off the excess of storm water. During Monday night the sea " made " considerably, and when daylight broke this morning a fearful sea was running. Many persons averred that it was equal to the famous 14th of May sea, but I among others accepted this opinion cum grano. However, the storm was bad enough to put a' stop to all shipping operations, and as the easterly wind increased as the clay advanced the harbourmaster and his staff was kept busy all 'day attending to vessels' moorings. About high- water (4.30 p.m.) the immense waves made clean breaches over the breakwater from end to end, and at intervals prodigious seas swept over tho main wharf and rendered all traffic beyond the line of the T wharf impossible. As the sea showed signs of still increasing as evening closed in, the harbour staff will have an anxious night of it. So far no damage has sbeen dope. The barques Thurso, Bells, Examiner, and Chile, the brigantine Gillan Donan, and the s.s. Kahu are riding at their moorings with perfect safety. August 18. The weather has been again dreadful to-day, and a fearful sea is rolling in, far worse than yesterday. The shipping is all right. Chbistchubch, August 17. It is raining heavily from the east, and several small landslips have occurred on the Port Hills. Accounts from the country show that the newly sown crops have suffered greatly, and there is considerable loss among stock. Wellington, August 18. The weather is still wet, with no signs of clearing up.