THE INANGAHUA IN FLOOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2676, 28 June 1905, Page 54

THE INANGAHUA IN FLOOD.

REEFTON, June 25. A big flood in the Inangahua River on Saturday morning shifted the western pier of the landing bridge two feet down the stream. Other damage is reported from various parts, and disasters through slips. FLOODS IN MARLBOROUGH. BLENHEIM, June 25. Reports were received on Saturday ot

floods in portions of the Pelorus, Wakamarina, and Kaituna districts. Considerabledamage was done to roads and bridges, and coach traffic was interrupted. It is feared that there has been much loss" of stock. Part of the Tua Marina district was inundated by an overflow from theWairau River. CANTERBURY RIVERS IN FLOOD. CHRISTCHURCH, June 24.

The rivers Ashley and Waimakariri are in flood. The Ashley overflowed its banks below the railway bridge, and inundated the low lands towards Sefton. The- Waimakariri has not been so high for years, and railway traffic is delayed. The floods were caused by torrents of rain on the North Canterbury hills and by the melting of the snow in the ranges. A gale in MidCanterbury blew down many telegraph poles, and telegraph communication south of Rakaia was interfered with.

There is a very heavy flood in the Waimakariri, and at Stewart's Gully, a few miles from Kaiapoi, the flood waters appeared to be nearly as high as those of the flood of 1887. Masses of debris were being caught by the bridge piles, and before the interruption of railway traffic trains travelled over the structure very cautiously. At the Empire road bridge the water was so high that communication by road was irnpaeticable. ' Much of the country near the river is under water.

June 25.

As the results of yesterday's flood in the Waimakariri, four old-age pensioners camped near the river in the vicinity of Ohaney^s, had a narrow escape. One was rescued by the police, who took a light skiff from the town, and rowed towards his camp. He informed the police that his mates were camped higher up and were auite safe. Many of the settlers' houses in the district were under water yesterday, and -also -many residences in Kaiapoi ; but to date no fatalities have been recorded. The- floods are rapidly subsiding.

ASHBURTON, June 24. Owing to the north-west gale meeting the snow on the hills, the Ashburton and Rakaia Rivers are in heavy flood. In some places they overflowed their banks and inundated the countryside. The telegraph wires have been down north and south of Ashburton for nearly two days. Traffic was interrupted on Methven line, a train being stuck up at Lyndhurst through a washout. The south-bound express ran off the metals near Rangitata on Saturday. No damage was done. On 'account of the rain and the flooded state of the country, the attendance at the winter show was small.