PALMERSTON AND WAIHEMO DISTRICT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2505, 26 March 1902, Page 30

PALMERSTON AND WAIHEMO DISTRICT.

PORTIONS OF THE TOWN FLOODED. (Fnoii Own Own Correspoxdent.) PALMERSTON, March 24. There is a big Bood in the Shag River, which is *till (1.30 p.m.) rising. All trains and coaches are blocked. In Palmerston. serious damage is anticipated. 7.30 p.m. — Heavy rain set in at 2 p.m. Standing on the south bank of the Shag River, and looking over to the uorth bank, spread out in front is a veritable sea, of water. Some lower portions of the township are under water, and considerable damage has been done. The creeks and river are still rising, and the rainfall is increasing. Serious damage must result. Several of the streets in the township are from Iff; to- 2ffc under water in places. The engine and goods sheds arc flooded, and the line there i 3 under water. Only one set of rails is available. The Shag "Galley road at the racecourse xa impassable except on horseback- The Dunback line has been washed away in several places, and also the Dunback road. No news is available from the upper or lower portion of the valley. • Several business places suffered damage through the ram penetrating the roofs. The 3 p.m. train from Uamaru arrived 45 minutes late. The Moonlight mail got through all right, but there is no sign of the Nasetoy mail or coach. 9 p.m. — No trains have arrived yet from the north. It is still raining heavily, and tho latest news is that the river is s-till rising. There is not the slightest sign of the weather clearing. THE OAMARU DISTRICT. CROPS WASHED OUT TO SEA. THE NORTH EXPRESS BLOCKED. OAMARU, March 24. The heaviest flood for tiie last 15 years has occurred here. The rivers are all in high flood. The salmon hatchery at Haka-taramea has overflowed, and it i* supposed that a great quantify cf the recently- imported ova and young fish will be lodl. A lot of crop on the Kakanm Flat "lias been swept out to sea and other damage done. The express train for Christchurch could not get past Oamaru, and the passengers are now here. The express train that went south from here was stuck up at Herbert, but waa expected to get through later on, as the rain has ceased and the flood waters are subsiding.