THE FLOODS IN CENTRAL OTAGO. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Naseby, August 10.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 17 August 1888, Page 14

THE FLOODS IN CENTRAL OTAGO. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Naseby, August 10.

It has been raining steadily for the past 24 hours, and the snow and ice are thawing rapidly, with the result that all the watercourses, creeks, and rivers which take their rise from the Mount Ida range are carrying down large volumes of water to the Taieri river, the raiin outlet from Maniototo Plain. This river has already risen several feet, and it is feared that a -heavy flood will eventuate. Rain is still falling, and there can ba no doubt that much damage will be caused by flood water to the farms lying near the river, as well as to crossings and protective works. August 11. The serious consequences anticipated in my telegram of yesterday have come to pass. Rain fell heavily all night, all the creeks and rivers riding several feet higher than they were yesterday. The Hogburn gully at midnight was a seething mass of water from bank to bank, and, as a result, many miners kept watch all night to keep the outlets free, and obviate as far as possible any damage happening to their races and works. As it is, damage representing in the aggregate over a thousand pounds has already been done to head and tail races and claims throughout the district. The Kyeburn river is frightfully swollen/and both the approaches to the bridge were swept away yesterday. The Palmerston coach was unable to cross it, and ever since daylight the coachman has been endeavouring to get the Naseby mails across, but so far without "success. He will, however, probably succeed some time today, and will at once come on to Naseby, when both coaches will set out on the return journey. The barometer has dropped several points since daylight, and as rain is still falling at intervals it is feared that the worst is not over yet. Settlers in the Taieri county who live in the vicinity of the Taieri river will probably be heavy losers by the overflowing of that stream. Later. It is reported that considerable damage has been done to the Government waterworks, representing a loss of several hundred pounds. This is quite possible, as even in ordinary floods slips invariably occur in the head races. If the breaks should prove serious it will represent serious loss to the mining community, which has already been a heavy loser by the unpropitious weather of the past six weeks. August 13. Rain fell steadily throughout the county till last night, when it ceased— light variable winds setting in and dispersing the heavy layers of clouds. This morning the barometer is rising slowly, and a stiff northerly breeze is blowing, drying up the roads and materially reducing the quantity of water in the creeks. A large amount of damage has been done throughout the district to county and mining works, amounting in the aggregate, so far as is yet known, to over £1000. The Government head race has broken away in several places, and 40 men are engaged in repairing the breaches. Further slips will probably occur when warmer weather sets in. Both approaches to the Kyeburn bridge are washed away, aud even the foundation of the structure itself appears to be affected. The Palmerston mails reached Naseby on Saturday, and the coach left on the return journey in the afternoon, but was unable to cross the turbulent Kyeburn, the mails not getting away till about midday yesterday. The county engineer has left for Lower Kyeburn to try and repair the bridge so that communication shall be at once restored. Hogburn creek broke iuto Naseby on Saturday night, submerging the back portion of the town and doing some slight damage. After several hours' hard work the water was rediverted into its old channel. It is impossible as yet to accurately estimate the value of the damage done throughout, the county, but it is fepund to be considerable. Tho Tsiieri river is in full flood, aud is everywhere overflowing its banks, inundating the low country contiguous to its course and damaging farming and mining works. The stream at Hyde is higher than it has been for fully 20 years, and it goes without saying that no appreciable diminution in the volume of water can take place under a week or a fortnight. Latest. The wet weather now appears to have broken up, and all the streams, excepting the rivers,are gradually dropping to their normal levels. As showing the warmth of the recent rains, it may be mentioned that the Rough Ridge and Rock and Pillar ranges, excepting the highest pinnacles of these mountains, have been almost entirely denuded of snow, the result being that the roads are in a very bad state, and water abounds everywhere.