DISASTROUS FLOODS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3609, 15 May 1923, Page 22

DISASTROUS FLOODS.

UNPRECEHENTEI) RAINS IN CANTERBI TRY. RIVER BRIDGES WASHED AWAY. RAILWAYS BADLY DAMAGED. PARTS OF KAIAFOI UNDER WATER. CHRISTCHURCH, May 7. A record for over 20 years was established by the rainfall for the 24 hours ended 9.30 a.m. to-day. The fall was 3.390 m. which was the greatest since the magnetic observatory was established in 190?. The previous record, curiously enough, was on January 26 of this year, when 3.227 in fell. The wetness of the year so far may he judged from the total rainfall figures to date, which are:—

This year 15.387 in. Last year 6.255 in. This year’s rainfall to date is already over three-fifths of the total average annual rainfall for the last 40 years. Telegraphic communication with the North Island was completely cut off this morning, even the West Coast route being out of action. r i he radway service in North Canterbury was completely disorganised beyond Rangiora, owing lo slips and wash-outs, while there was a dislocation on the West Coast line. Considerable surface flooding occurred in the eitv and suburbs, but the damage is not extensive. The rain has resulted in the most extensive and disastrous flood in North Canterbury since the great flood of 1868. This morning people rose to find the rivers running bank-high and flooding the low-lying country with water, in some places to a depth of 4ft.

All the low-lying parts of Kaiapoi are under water, and in some cases water entered houses. Eyre River rose during the night and overflowed its banks in several places, flooding ClarkeviLle. The main drain at Flaxton also overflowed, the flood waters covering most of the land between Flaxton and the Cam River, farmers finding it necessary to remove their stock. The Rangiora gasworks are flooded and the fires are out. There is only one night’s supply of gas in the holders, fl he main streets of the town of Rangiora are more or less under water, footpaths being covered up to the shopfronts. The conditions in Amberley are very bad, the township being flooded to a considerable depth. Water is over the crown of the main street to a depth of 2ft, and business places and private houses are flooded, there being 3ft 6in of water in the Railway Hotel. All the low-lying land is inundated. Further north from Amberley the conditions are reported to be serious. A heavy flood caused the Kowai River to hurst its banks at Leithfield, and the water was rushing through the town this morning along the Main North road, which is impassable. A number of houses were inundated. At Cheviot, since Friday up till 8 o’clock this morning, 10.56 in of rain has fallen, and from 8 a.m. on Sunday till 8 a.m. to-day 8.45 in fell. All the roads in the district are impassable. The bridge at the mouth of the Hurunui River, erected a few years ago by the Cheviot, County Council, was swept out to sea. It connected parts of Cheviot and Stonyhurst estates. Hie Hurunui River is in flood, the highest, for 30 years. Water has entered some houses on the low-lying areas. The floods and wash-outs have seriously interrupted railway service in North Canterbury. No trains were run north of Rangiora this morning. Between Balcairn »nd Teflon the line is Under water, and is damaged at three places, and between Amberley and Waipara the line is flooded and undermined at a number of places, and is rendered unsafe for traffic. The country around Culverden is flooded, Ihe station vnrd being under water. On the Midland line a wash-out occurred on the Christchurch side of Springfield, which prevented the morning train leaving Springfield for Christchurch. A bier slip also occurred beyond Springfield, and the West Coast train may be unable to run to-mor-row. Several families had to be rescued from their homes at Culverden, which v.as completely isolated to-day. At Amberley business houses were barricaded with sand bags at the doorways, but. the water triumphed, and entered almost all the business places, some to a depth of 2ft. Heavy losses of stock are reported. In the Waiau district 9.50 inches of rain fell in 24 hours. The Waiau River is in heavy flood, hut at present no accurate details as to damage, which must be considerable, can be obtained. The Cain Dairy Factory at Rangiora is out of commission, there being 18 inches of water in the building. The country round Rangiora is a veritable sheet of water. Old residents describe the flood as the worst for £0 years. The Selwyn River is running in high flood, and has caused damage in the Ellesmere County. For the first time for very many years the church bells were not rung at Akaroo. last night, and no services were held, for at the church-going hour the wind was blowing a gale, and rain was pouring down in driving sheets. All the creeks on Banks Peninsula are flooded. TIMARU, May 7. Rain commenced to fall in South Canterbury on Saturday morning, and still continues. Conditions on Saturday and Sunday were excessively wintry, but are milder to-day. The rainfall from 9 a.m. on Sunday to 9 a.m. to-day was 2.36 inches—a. record. No damage is reported so far, but the rivers are in flood. There is a good deal of surface, flooding in the city and suburbs, but nothing serious. Very high tides threaten damage at New Brighton. Ail unusual fire was caused in Linwood by the flood waters reaching unslaked lime at a builder’s house. The Tees, from the Chathams, due at Lyttelton last night, had not been sighted up to 9 a.m. NO TRAINS NORTH OF KAIAPOI. CHRISTCHURCH, May 7. No trains are running north of Kaiapoi. The trains are not likely to get; through to Arthur’s Pass before the end of the week, but trains will be able to run to and from Springfield. The Sonthbridge line is also interrupted, and the south-west side of Rang iota has suffered considerably, the water rushing down John street like a river. The houses will soon be surrounded, and in many cases it will be impossible to get in or out of them Fortunately the rain eased this afternoon, and the water began to subside, thus averting a great amount of damage. It is still raining throughout Canterbury to-night, but the fall is light compared with the previous 24 hours. Two ears loaded with passengers and mails left for Kaikoura this morning, but they were unable to get piast the Ashley, which is in high flood and has overflowed its banks. A big char-a-banc which left for Oulverden and Hannier Springs this morning had also to turn back. The cars arrived back in town about 11.30 a.m. ’the usual route for the cars to take is the Main North road, which does not go through Rangiora. The Ashley crosses the road a little north of Waikuku. The cars could not get past Waikuku. being stopped by a sheet of water which completely covered the road and paddocks. The cars then went to Rangiora to try to get across the ferro concrete bridge over the Ashley there, but here a similar experience was met with, the bridge being unapproachable on account of a huge sheet of water. There was, therefore, nothing else to do except return to Christchurch. Even if the cars had got past Ashley, there was no hope of them reach-

ing Kaikoura or Ilanmer Springs, as the road north of Ashley is impassable in places. ’the Tourist Bureau reported that no cars had left Kaikoura for Christchurch this morning. Mr J. Robb, of Oust, who travelled by train to Christchurch tliis morning, informed a reporter that the flood waters were about a foot above the railway line in places between Oust, and Rangiora. “We crawled along at a snail’s pace, and from Fernside to Rangiora a ganger and a platelayer in a ‘jigger’ proceeded in front of the engine to make sure that the line was safe for the train,” stated Mr Robb. At a number of places the ballast was washed away from under tho rails. When the train pulled into Rangiora Station the water was from 18in to 2ft deep- almost to Ihe level of the platform. Between Rangiora and Flaxton the train had to stop several times owing to water which was rushing across the line in a torrent in a number of places. The Waimakariri, being a snow-fed river, was not- particularly high. From Kaiapoi to Christchurch, added Mr Robb, the line was fairly clear. In tho vicinity of Flaxton the flood was fairly extensive, 'the occupants of a two-storeyed house nea.r the railway line had to shift upstairs, the water having flooded the lower rooms. At Cheviot 10.55 inches of rain fell from Friday to 8 a.m. to-day. The rivers are in high flood, and the roads impassable. A man named Schultz, and his family, in the Bridge House at Waiau, had to be rescued. SERIOUS POSITION IN ASHBURTON. ASHBURTON, May 7. It has been raining almost without a break since Thursday night. Many footpaths are flooded, and taxis were busy conveying people to business. The conditions are very exceptional for this dry district. The four days’ rainfall totalled 6.42 inches, of which the last 24 hours gave 4.56 inches. It is still raining. Rakaia reports 4.80 inches in the last 17 hours; Methven, 6.50 inches in the last few days. Methven reports extensive damage to wheat stacked in paddocks. Owing to the tardy settlement of the wheat-selling scheme, the millers have been buying only from hand to mouth. Consequently the farmers, being unable to effect sales, stacked their wheat in sacks in the paddocks, under covers which are adequate for ordinary rainfall, but quite inadequate for this deluge. The losses will probably be serious. KAIAPOI BADLY AFFECTED. BOATS CONVEYING FOOD. CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. Ihe floods at Kaiapoi became serious this morning, owing to a rapid rise in the night; and a number of families in the centre of the town had to be removed. Hotels and bearding houses are full, and several families are taking refuge in tho Technical School and a malthouse, which are surrounded by water. Boats are conveying food from house to house, where the occupants have taken refuge upstairs. The water is up to the mantelpieces in some cases. Rain is still falling heavily in Christchurch as well as in the country. At 10.30 a.m. the north branch of the Waimakariri River, which had risen four feet above the highest mark reached during spring tides, was rapidly encroaching on the protecting bank on the south side, and fears were expressed that a terrible flood would break through the bank at any moment and carry away houses and business premises in that portion, of tho town. As the flood tore into the bank feverish efforts were being made to divert the water into the centre of the river. Trees were rapidly cut down, and sandbags placed in position to strengthen the bank and resist the onslaught of the angry torrent. Despite these efforts, water poured info the tovyn, most of the streets being flooded. Near the Kaiapoi Woollen Mills the houses were comparatively low-lying, and the water had risen to such an extent that tho occupants had had no alternative but to desert them. The water in some cases had almost reached the eaves of the houses. The trail of the refugees from their wrecked homes was a most pathetic sight, several families carrying bundles containing their most precious belongings, and with younger children in their fathers’ arms,were seen making their way to temporary shelters, while numbers of drays and carts were being used to recover much of the heavier belongings that could still be reached. Tho scene was reminiscent of the flight of refugees in France and Belgium, and in some respects much worse because of the torrential rain that was falling incessantly/ Masses of wreckage were piled about in manv rda-oes. and numerous fowlhouses floated about in water, while fowls could be seen perched in trees on the highest places that could be reached. Over 80 houses in Kaiapoi had to be vacated bv their occupants. The abandoned houses are mostly in Sidey quay. Otaki street. Brown street, High street, and on the Cam side of the town. The refugees are scattered over the whole town, all available Halls and public buildings being fully occupied, while a large number have been given shelter with private families. One resident has three families of refugees in his house. Serious damage was done at the woollen mills, which are flooded lo a depth of two feet over practically the whole building. Work at the mills could not proceed, and the employees, many of whom were rendered homeless, occupied themselves in rescue work. Raven street, which runs parallel with the Waiwakariri River, was covered with a sheet, of water to a depth of fully four feet in places, and all the frontages of tho houses and business premises were blocked. The front of the Working Men’s Club was a sheet of water, which extended right into the building. Looking down Black street, the expanse of water could bo seen right along to the school, which had to be closed on account of its inaccessibility. All around this portion of the town the streets were badly flooded. At the Post. Office corner, on the north side of the river, the water extended almost, right across the road, but further alone in the direction of the woollen mills the flood was at its worst. Just above the swing bridge a. large number of willing workers were filling sand bags, with which they built a protecting wall across the road to keep the flood from rushing through among the houses.

DAMAGE IN NORTH CAXTEKBCKY. P A ST OR A LI ST S HEAVY LOSERS. CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. Serious reports are to hand fran tiie. fat north of Canterbury, where it is still ranting hard. Tho Waiau bridge, has gone it three spans, and the bridge is impassable* Conway bridge was swept out tu sea. Big losses have occurred among sheep on the river flats. Gore Bay is littered with dead, sheep from tho sea which were washed down by rivers. Portions of the Lower Ilurunui bridge are also on the beach. Farms along the Hurunui River have suffered severely. Practically the whole of Springston and Ellesmere were flooded when the Selwyn River broke its banks. At Ellesmere the position became so bad that the postmistress bad to leave the office. The Selwyn River is two miles wide at the Selwyn crossing. It is the worst flood experienced in the Ellesmere district for 45 .years. There are very serious losses of stock. The Waiau correspondent of-the Frees telegraphs to-night that it is anticipated that, the next few days will bring in reports of heavy losses of stock of all descriptions, and of enormous damage to property, while the contour of the country in many parts of the Waiau district will have considerably altered. Heavy rain in the city and reports of continuous rain in the country gave every ir dication to day that tho damage caused by the storm might, bo much more serious than was anticipated. Telegraphic communication with the North Island is maintained under great difficulties. The West Coast mail route is impassable, and mails are being sent by way of Wellington. North Canterbury mails are being sent only as far as Rangiora. Springston, on the "Southbridge line, and Springfield, on the West Coast line, are the present mail terminii. Hanmer is completely cut off, and the mail cars did not attempt to run to-day. Kaikoura is isolated from both ends owing to washouts on the roads and the washing away of the bridges. Amberley presents a desolate appearance. Extensive damage has been done to the roads and railway track. Ballast from the railway line is deposited on the main streets of the town, and business is completely disorganised. and v 1 i 1 be so for some time. Nineteen and a-half inches of rain have fallen at- Amberley since Friday’. Great losses of stock are reported, and some of the pastoralist-s have lost all their sheep and all their cattle. HEAVY LOSS OF VALUABLE STUD SHEEP. CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. The traffic bridge over tiie Selwyn River at Ellesmere —the only crossing available when the ford on the Main South road cannot be used —is out of commission. O'ne end has been damaged very severely. The wool works at Waikuku, near Kaiapoi, were flooded to a depth of 7ft or Bft., as well as the fiat land towards the sea. Owing to the swollen waters of the Ashley and the Little Ashley joining forces, the Kairaki Flat is a huge lake, and the harbourmaster’s house is completely surrounded. The floor! waters from inland are banked up by tho heavy seas which are breaking on the coast. At Saltwater Creek, near Rangiora, there was over 3ft of water in Mr W. L. Parkinson’s house, and he rescued a neighbour named Mr E. M'Millan and his family, who were waist-deep in water, from their residence nearby. Air Parkinson is reported to have lost 100 head of cattle, and Air J. D. Wyllie some 300 sheep. At Sefton at. least one family had to leave its house. There was 3ft of water in Mr J. Barclay’s store. Air J. Stevenson, of Flaxto-n, is reported to be a heavy loser as a result of the inundation of his property. He has lost a number of valuable stud sheep. To-day the flood waters have receded from Rangiora township. MIDLAND RAILWAY DAMAGED. A LARGE WASHOUT. CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. The heavy rains have caused grave interruptions in the Midland Railway line, and it is impossible to state when communication with Arthur’s Pass will be restored. A large washout near Otarama, six miles beyond Springfield, is possibly the worst that has occurred in the South Island, and a deviation of the line is essential. Survey work in connection with the deviation was commenced to-day. The scene at Otaraina is hard to describe in words. One hundred and thirty-two feet of railway line and sleepers hangs suspended over a chasm 6Cft in depth, and another slide of 109 ft has carried the hundiods of tons of earth from the big slide into the Waimakariri River. The whole face of the cliff lias fallen in, and from time to time further slides occur. Air A. J. M'Credie, district railway engineer, describes the slide as the worst he has ever seen. Other serious interruptions include the blocking of one of the tunnels, and a further big washout between the two tunnels. A week at. least will be required for the carrying out of even temporary repairs to the line. The break at Otarama is by no means the only obstacle to through communication with Arthur's Pass. A Press representative ascertained that the mouth of No. 8 tunnel was completely blocked, and parties from the Canterbury side who wished to inspect further up the line had to make their way over the hill. Here again the position was bad, for between tunnels 9 and 10 there is a washout which rivals ihe Otarama break in extent. Further up the line several slips have occurred. The work represented in all these interruptions to the line must tax severely the resources of the repair gangs on this side of the island. In view of the necessity for similar work in North Canterbury and elsewhere it is possible that a work train will be sent through from Grovmoutli to undertake the repair work at Arthur’s Pass. Unless something of this kind is done it will be a very long time before trains can get through to Arthur’s Pass. RAILWAY SURFACEMEN’S TASK. CHRISTCHURCH. May 8. The people of Selwyn had an anxious time on ATonday night. The river from almost nothing on Friday to a stream of enormous volume on Monday. Many of the adjoining farm lands were flooded, and several families removed to Dunsardol for safety. Residents state that in 40 years

they had not seen a flood in Sclwyn to equal that of Monday. Railway surfacemen had an awkward task set them. A telegraph pole composed of two 801 b rails fell across the Selwyn bridge, blocking the line. In a pouring rain, with a flooded river beneath, and in an awkward position, tltree men set to work in the darkness, which was relieved onlv by the light of two hurricane lamps, to cut througn these rails with cold chisels arid a sledge hammer to clear the line for the midnight goods train from Christchurch. To-day the river had fallen very much. AH danger was past, and the Sclwyn bridge had withstood its greatest trial. HOLIDAYMAKERS’ EXPERIENCE. CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. Those who have been staying at Waikuku holiday resort, about eijght miles from Rangiora. have had a most experience during the last few days. Communication was established with the isolated settlement, a boat being got across and managing to rescue the two or three farm lies who had been spending a holiday there. A scene of desolation met the eyes, the fane of the landscape, being greatly altered by the action of the flood waters, which poured out to sea from the streams in the vicinity. A store owned by Mr Hawkins has been carried some hundreds of yards, and was lying on its side on the beach. A “bach.” was also found in similar circumstances, but two shelters for the use of male and female bathers, and owned by the Waikuku Domain Board, were conspicuous by their absence. They have been carried bodily out to sea. BLENHEI >. I IN UNDATED. RIVER BURSTS ITS BANKS. FOUR FEET OF WATER IN THE TOWN. HEAVY LOSSES OF STOCKS. BRIDGES SWEPT AWAY. BLENHEIM. May 8. The river burst its banks at the school yesterday, and flooded the business area of the town to a depth of 4ft. Most of the shops are inundated, and heavy losses of stocks are reported. In one instance (the Girling Company) about £IOOO of damage is reported. Many houses in the low-lying areas were invaded by water, and the refugees are distributed amongst the more fortunate in higher areas. The worst, locality is Grove road, at the eastern end of the town, where many houses are flooded to a depth of 6ft. The flood waters are now receding. Yesterday it was impossible to get about the town, ar.d business was at a standstill. Washouts on the Picton and Wharanui lines caused a complete stoppage of railway traffic. Reports from the country districts indicate that the flood is general. The Ure railway and traffic bridge was swept away, and it is also reported that the Flaxbourne bridge is gone. Medway bridge over the Upper Awatere has been washed away, and all the bridges in the Pelorus district are reported to have gone. Heavy losses of stock are reported. All roads are impassable, and there is no communication in any direction. The telephone service is interrupted, and reports are difficult to obtain. The flood was the highest on record, and came up with such suddenness that it was Impossible to rescue residents in all the lowlying area before dark. A shortage of boats also made rescue work slow. As a result many families, particuarly in the Grove road area, had to spend the night under terrible conditions, instances being quoted where whole families were huddled all night on top of chests of drawers, while others stood all night on top of tables. However, all seemed bright and cheerful when rescued. Work was resumed this morning, and no fatalities are reported, though there have been some remarkable escapes. At Hales Corner, Springlands, four drays carrying people were overturned, one after another, but everyone escaped, though in one ease a horse was drowned. A cart was also swamped in Hutcheson, and two men who were occupants spent 12 hours in a tree crying for help. The town is in an appalling state as the flood waters recede, and shopkeepers are reporting heavy losses. KAIAPOI’S DISMAL ASPECT. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AT WOOLLEN MILLS. CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. The flood waters are receding in Kaiapoi, and to-day the residents have been relieved of much of the anxiety of the previous 48 hours. Though the water has subsided on the Cam side, access to the houses cannot yet be gained without the aid of boats. Charles street, where the sandbag protection was erected yesterday to keep back the waters, is now clear. In the overcast sky to-day the town bore a dismal aspect. The parts from which the water had been drained away were covered with silt, driftwood, and debris of all kinds. Most of the houses which were flooded are not habitable yet, and it may be some days before the flood is down sufficiently to enable the owners to return. Traffic through quite a number of streets is possible only in dray 3 or boats. 'The damage to tlie Kaiapoi Woollen Company’s mills was very extensive, and it will bt some time before the full effect of the flood will be known. Hiroughout most of the building the depth of flood water was aboui two feet. There were over 2000 pairs of blankets in the finishing department; and when the water was at its highest it overflowed the tables on which the finishing work was done, causing considerable damage. A great deal of destruction was caused to the stocks of acids and ammonia at the factory, and much of the machinery will also be seriously affected. Mr Bennett, superintendent of Telegraphs, stated this morning that there were still no wires to the North Island via the East Coast, but an improved circuit had been procured from Christchurch via Greymoutli, Nelson, and Blenheim, direct to Wellington. By this circuit (he Telegraph Office was now enabled to work the multiplex fast printing machine, which was doing splendid work, and was practically coping with all the work coming to hand. Things tvere at normal, and would remain so as long as the circuit held up. Ilanmer Springs at the present lime, said Mr Ben nett, was absolutely isolated as far as telegraphic communication was concerned.

Approximately half the population of Kaiapoi was rendered homeless, but accommodation was found for all. Some splendid work was done by various bands of workers in rescuing people, often at considerable risk. The efforts of these helpers is now being fully realised. Towards Rangiora the flood waters are receding fast. At Woodend whole farms are still inundated, and it will take some days for this water to drain off. Forlornlooking groups of live stock ran be seen clinging to the highest points of the farms. The losses of stock have been heavy. SOME HEAVY LOSSES. Some heavy losses have been sustained in the Coldstream district of North Canterbury, where there is scarcely a house that is not surrounded by water. In some instances houses are submerged to a depth of two feet, their occupants having been removed to safety. With regard to the losses of produce and live stock, a farmer who had 2K)O bushels of grain stacked five sacks high in a shed had the let surrounded with water, which caused sacks to burst. A well-known grazier betw'een Saltwater Creek and Ashley River had 100 head of cattle washed out to sea, and a Waikuku settler lost 50 pigs. At Flaxton a prominent farmer is a loser of 110 valuable stud sheep. Considerable damage has been suffered in respect of potato crops. In a paddock at Coldstream 600 sacks are submerged to a depth of two feet, and in an adjoining paddock a large number of sacks are not visible at all. There are large quantities of potatoes not yet dug, and it is considered that these will be no use. at all now, as they will rot. Owing to the municipal gasworks being flooded there was no gas available in the borough of Rangiora last night, consequently those whose premises are not conneeted with electricity had to fali back on kerosene lamps and candles. A PHENOMENAL RAINFALL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. The district round about Waiau, in the far north of the province, has suffered severely from the floods caused by the extraordinarily heavy rain. From the time rain commenced on Friday morning up to 9 o’clock this morning, the rainfall* recorded in Waiau township was 19.73 in, and at “Keinton Combe” (Colonel Chaffey’s place) there was a still more phenomenal fall of 30.81 in. By this morning the floods had subsided considerably, but it will be many days before the rivers and watercourses are back to normal On every hand there are scenes of desolation and luin. The lower lands around the township are covered with silt to a considerab!e_ depth. Masses of debris of eveiy description lie on the fences and trees, arid bear testimony to the height of the flood. The waters have reached river flats which for many years have been good grazing lands, and are now barren river-bed, every vestige of vegetation having been swept off. Farmers who have come in on horseback—the only means of transit at present —all testify to the tremendous alteration in the configuration of the country. On Lyndon No. 2 Settlement fences have been swept away in all directions, and small watercourses have become river-beds. Old watercourses which for as long as the eldest settler can remember have been dry, and in which cabbage trees and willows have been growing for many years, have- been scoured out. Willow trees 2ft in diameter have been torn out bv the roots, and a bed of shingle some chains in width remains to give some slight idea of the volumes of water that swept across the country. One farm residence stands some 20ft above the stream, but the flood came within 2tt of it. Some rich flats on the Lyndon Estate now appear as river-beds. Nothing is known of the state of the Kaikoura road beyond Mason Hills, but the damage to that point will take weeks to repair. WATERS SUBSIDING. CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. The flood waters have subsided sufficiently between Kaiapoi and Rangiora to allow trains to run t;o Cheviot. The line is still in a very bad state. ROADS AND BRIDGES DAMAGED. BLENHEIM, May 9. It is discovered that some of the grain and produce has been invaded by the flood with serious results. Thousands of bushels of peas, seeds, and grain are irretrievably ruined, and there will Ixs much loss by saturation. In one case £0 tons of sugar literally melted away. One dealer in produce estimates his loss at £IOCO. The railway line at Spring Creek was severely damaged, the permanent way being washed out a distance of a hundred yards. The damage done to roads and bridges throughout the province is enormous. The Blenheim-Kaikoura road is impassable, and the approaches to the Ure bridge are washed away. It is reported that the Flaxbourne bridge has gone. Two spans of the Clarence bridge and two cylinders have been carried away. The telegraph lines are gone. MAN AND BOY MISSING. BLENHEIM, May 9. Iri connection with the flood, fears are entertained for the safety of Air E. Robinson, secretary of ibe Spring Creek Road Board, and a farm boy, who left Robinson’s farm at Lower Wairau last night in a dray for Blenheim. A search party discovered the dray on the roadside in deep water, the horses roaming free with broken harness. Subsequently a vest, presumably one worn by Mr Robinson’s companion, was found, but no signs of tho missing ones. TEL EG RAPH 1C DISLOCA TION. WELLINGTON, May 9. In consequence of the breakdown of the telegraph wires at Clarence River communication between Wellington and Christchurch. has had to be maintained by way of W oslport. In reply to inquiries, the PostmasterGeneral (the Hon. J. G. Coates) stated that, a. quadruplo-duplex telegram printing machine, capable of taking 500 messages an hour, is being installed between Wellington and Christchurch by way of Blenheim, Tophouso, Glenhopo, and Groymouth. The Superintending Engineer of Telegraphs (Mr E. A. Shrimpton) has left for Nelson by the Wainui to visit the scene of tho breakdown and see to matters "%n tho Spot., Looal on gin emirs have been instructed to get, the work of repair in hand as soon as possible.

FARM LANDS DEPRECIATED IN VALUE. REFUGE ON A HOUSE ROOF. BLENHEIM. May 10. The flood waters are now receding from Blenheim, and from the greater part of the inundated plains. Tho town is getting back to normal, and settlers in the farm areas are beginning to reckon their losses. The Mayor’s relief fund is growing steadily. Many substantial subscriptions are coming in. Lower Wairau is a scene of desolation and distress. At its height die V airau River gouged oui: a great gap in a stop bank in the vicinity of Whittle’s Bend, the water tearing across the country in a stream half a mile wide, and inundated practically the whole of Lower W airau. It i 3 the worst flood in the history of the district, farms and homesteads, which had hitherto been .immune from floods, being deeply invaded. There has been a- tremendous loss of stock. This is borne witness to by the carcases of sheep which have been hung up on tho barbed wire fences. It is still impossible to givp any estimate of what the loss will mean. Farms of some of the smaller settlers have to all intents and purposes been swept bare. Stacks have been overturned or ruined, and fences are down in all directions. Spring Creek has more or less been cleared of water since yesterday, only the low-lying areas being affected now. The area immediately around the Ferry Hotel presents perhaps the most desolate and dreary scene in Marlborough. Fences on both sides of the road have been washed out. and all the remaining fences arc sagging under the weight of festooned weeds. At the back of the railway line Mrs F. Redwood’s property has suffered severely. Her house has been entirely surrounded by water from Monday until this morning. The stop bank at the Tuamarina side of the ferry bridge has been broken through in several places over a distance of about a quarter of a .mile, and the outlook in the event of a further rise is bad. Where the river flooded across the paddocks at one place practically the whole of the top soil and grass has been removed, leaving a broad track like an old river bed. The railway line in the vicinity of Bpring Creek is very badly damaged, the ballasting having been washed out here and there over a considerable distance, leaving the rails and sleepers hanging in the air. A culvert on the line is also badly damaged. Road communication between Blenheim and Picton was effected this morning. Alany cars made the journey to-day. At Tuamarina the flood invaded an hotel to the depth of a foot, and most of the other buildings in the locality suffered severely. The railway line here has been damaged pretty badly, but has been temporarily repaired by means of sleepers and old railway iron. The southerly buster treated Havelock suburban to heavy rain, and the result was the heaviest flood since October 24, _ 1900. Old residents declare that it was the highest flood in their memory. Considerable damage occurred to fences m low-lying flats adjoining the river, tout (hero was not much loss of stock. There have been many slips along the hillsides. This morning it was still impossible to get anywhere within reasonable distance _ of Dillon’s Point, the whole of the area being inundated and presenting a sorry sight. The water here is receding very slowly, and it is believed that it will be several days be fore the area is clear. There is plenty of evidence that Islington has suffered severely, most of the houses being invaded to a depth of two feet, while in some cases the water was even deeper. In Grovetown district the waters have receded a good deal, but a large area, extending from Mr F. Jones’s house to the river, is still inundated. It was in this area that the body of Air Robinson was found. At Lower Wairau Air Saunders and family had a most f rying experience in their house, which is near the bank of the Wairau River. The water rose to an immense height, and they had to take refuge in the roof, being compelled finally to cut the roof open with an axe. The house was a fairly old one, and the great pressure made it literally rock. But for the fact that a big macrocarpa hedge broke the current to a certain extent. Air Saunders declares the place would have been carried out to sea. The family was rescued yesterday after being without food for some time. Airs Saunders and her four months old baby felt the strain of the experience greatly. THE GOVERNMENT TO' ASSIST. WELLINGTON. May 10. The Prime Minister states that the Cabinet has decided to assist the settlers who had suffered serious loss during the recent floods, and who mav require a certain amount cf cash in order to carry on their farms. Details have not yet been worked out, but the intention is to follow the procedure adopted in the case of the bush fires some years ago at Raetihi and Ohakune, where monetary advances wsye made to settlers at a comparatively low rate of interest. In the present case of sufferers through the flood damage, the rate of interest* will be 5 per cent. Applications for assistance will fc-e received by the Superintendent of the State Advances Department. ONE BODY RECOVERED. BLENHEIM. May 10 The body of the late Mr E. E. Robinson, who was drowned in the flood near Grovetown on Monday night, was recovered about 3 o’clock this afternoon in about sft of water. Mr Robinson had thrown off his coat and shoes and had evidently struck out from the capsized dray in the direction of Mr F. Jones’s house, as the body was found about 75 yards on that side of the dray. So far the body of Jack Gledhill. who accompanied Mr Robinson, has not been located. RAILWAY REPAIR WORK. RELIEF GANGS FROM GREY MOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH, May 10. Tho Waiau bridge is now completely broken in two, and communication with Parnassus is stopped. The loss of the Waiau bridge will be very serious to motorists, as the river is one of lire most dangerous and difficult in Canterbury, and lies on the direct route to Cheviot.. Before the bridge, was opened many cars used to be held up at the ford, where a horse and cart used to ferry passengers across. Even when the weather clears the Rad wav Department will be faced with serious difficulty when it comes to the work of re-

pairing tho breaks on the Waipara-Par-nassu-s branch. The lino is 44 miles in length, arid it goes over tho Ilurunui and Waiau Rivers as well as over the smaller streams. Reports indicate that tho rails will have to be relaid over various stretches. Scouring by flood water still goes on, and the foundations of various bridges have been undermined. There is a aim near Seargili, but -the worst fail of earth has taken place between Ethel ton and Tormore. Several hundreds of tons of earth have been carried away. r J he rails underneath this huge pile of debris are very likely to have been either bent or broken. Repairs will therefore be a matter of weeks. Repair work was started on the Midland line at Otarama slip. So that the work may be carried out with all despatch arrangements have been made to send a relief train from Greymouth through the Arthur’s Pass tunnel. Operations can then be put in hand at both ends of the series of slips LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE LOST. CHRISTCHURCH, May 10. One hundred and 40 stud Southdown ewes, valued at about £IOCO, and a Southdown ram, valued at 30 guineas, have been lost in the floods by Mr J. Sqtevenson, the wellknown breeder, of Flaxton. 'the flood came so suddenly that, little could be done to remove the sheep, but by strenuous efforts Mr Stevenson saved about 500. Air Stevenson lias been building up his flock of stud sheep for some years, and is consequently a heavy loser. He has also lost a considerable quantity of clover seed and wheat. Though few definite estimates are available, it is likely that the stock losses in North Canterbury district will fco heavy, for in many low-lying parts the water came down overnight, and little could bo done to save stock. Farmers are having an anxious time, for in addition to stock losses, which cannot be definitely ascertained yet, many of them will lose wheat and seed which has been threshed and left stacked in the paddocks. In the Rakaia district the floods have been responsible for the ruin of a great deal of wheat and potatoes in sacks, which were out in paddocks and have become water-logged. Repairs on the Southbridge railway line, where a bridge was down, and on the north line as far as Scfton, have been carried on very expeditiously, and unless there are more floods the services which have been restored will be maintained, though per manent repairs will lake some time THE GREAT BLIP AT OTARAMA. CHRISTCHURCH, May 10. It appears that the great slip in the Midland lino near Otarama was discovered by a railway employee on a jigger in thick darkness and amid a torrential rain early on Monday morning. The Sun thus graphically describes the incident: Without warning the “jigger” comes to a stop, though the man presses hard against the driving arm. Hie rails beneath the wheels sway alarmingly, and the machine with the man clinging to it dances wildly. The man bends down, touches the wooden sleeper, and his groping fingers displace a stone, then the sound of the stone striking a rock far down in the blackness. Robert Sutherland, a railway bridge man at Staircase Gully, found himself suspended on the sagging railway lines over a huge gulf which had opened under the track over night. That was how at 4.30 a.m. on Monday the big break near Otarama was first discovered. rile rails attached to the sleepers still bridge a gap of 132 ft across, though they have bent under the strain of their unsupported weight. By all the rules when the weight of a “jigger” and its occupant bore upon them they should have torn away from t Heir fastenings. It is considered marvellous that even now they still span across. When Sutherland found himself in the situation described he did what few men would have done. Instead of abandoning the “jigger” to its fate and crawling spider-like towards safety, he stepped on to the sleepers and pushed the vehicle — which had stopped in the dip in the rails—up and on to the firm track again. Then, tnough the rushing flood waters tore over the track, he made haste to Springfield and gave the alarm. Not until later in the day. perhaps, when in daylight he viewed the spot again, and saw '3ooft below the suspended rails, the turbulent, waters cf die Waimakariri River coursing over huge boulders, did he realise fully tile peril in which he had been placed before early dawn. MINISTER OF WORKS. WELLINGTON, May 10. Tlie Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Pubfio Works) was to have left Wellington for Blenheim to visit the flooded areas and judge himself what can best be done to prevent or minimise the flood damage in the future. The Minister, however, received a telegram from Mr W. J. Girling, M.P. for Wairau, asking him to postpone his trip till next week, when it was hoped that the flood waters will have subsided sufficiently to enable him to get about the district more readily and form a better idea of what the needs will be. MAIL DIFFICULTIES. BLENHEIM, May 10 Rain is still falling intermittently, but the rivers have fallen considerably. A party left Blenheim on Sunday for Christchurch, but was stopped at Ward, and returned from Ward yesterday, the 34 miles occupying tlie whole day. The party confirms the serious damage done to the Clarence bridge and to the approaches of the Ure bridge. The Flaxbourne bridge is quite safe. It was reported that the liapuUu bridge was washed away, but this lacks confirmation. Mails which were held up at Tuamarina were brought to Blenheim yesterday afternoon by a six-horse wagon. The water was up to the horses’ girths. About half a dozen passengers came from Tuamarina. to Blenheim on the wagon. A return mail was sent out by wagon at 7.15 this morning from Blenheim. In a paddock close to Spring Creek Station Air A. A ickers lost 400 sheep. Vll the houses at the Maori pa are inundated. CHRIS TCI IUKOI lIOK 1 TIK A. HOKITIKA. May 11. Through traffic by motor car between Christchurch and Hokitika was reopened vesterday. Clement’s Motors, Ltd., report that between Hokitika aivi Craigieburn normal road conditions provail. Between tho latter and Porter’s Pass there are from lft to 3ft of snow. Arrangements have been made for a through daily service. In marked contrast, Westland has been experiencing splendid weather for the last

six weeks, getting over one hundred hours of sunshine during tho last fornight. TIIE GROVETOWN TRAGEDY. BLENHEIM. May 11. Speaking at a meeting of the Borough Council last night, the mayor said it, was the gravest disaster that had ever befallen the district. Some settlers in the Whittle’s Bend locality Had lost everything on their farms, and some might lose even the farms unless the local authorities were successful in turning water back to its original channels. In other parts of the district the losses were not so severe, and could be made up In Blenheim the working people had suffered severely. It was stated that some people were sleeping on wet beds, and in this connect ion \ho mayor stated ihat the Catholic authorities had given the use of St. Patrick’s Hall and the Hospital Board had promised to provide blankets. The Red Cross at Wellington had offered assistance, clothing, etc., and Lord Jelficoe had wired his sympathy and regret at the serious damage done and consequent distress. Offers of assistance had been received from all over the country, including an offer from the mayor and councillors of Picton. Money was coining m freely for the purpose of relief funds, but would !>e only a drop ill. the ocean of distress and need. The body of James Ernest Gledhill, one of the victims of tho Grovetown tragedy, was found about a chain from tho spot where Robinson's body was recovered. An inquest was held last evening, and a verdict of accidentally drowned was returned. Tho countryside generally is in an awful raef-s. Road communication has been opened up between I’ieton and Blenheim, but railway traffic is still dislocated, owing to washouts. Business people are getting down to normal again Thero is nothing new to report about the floods except reports from the Awatere and Flaxbourne districts. The flood in the Awatere River was a sight never to bo forgotten. A seething mass of muddy water filled the whole river bed from bank to bank, and ran at a furious rate. The full extent of the damage is not yet known, but a good deal of damage is known to have been done to bridges. The. approach to the Cre bridge is in a shaky condition. The main bridge in the Linkwater district was washed away, and the smaller bridge in the Cullonsville road damaged and rendered unsafe for traffic. Many acres of fine pasture are buried under silt, in some places to a depth of two feet. NORTH CANTERBURY REPORTS. CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. Back to normal is the essence of the reports received to-day in regard to tho districts affected by the floods. The waters aro receding, and only very low-lying areas are now carrying flood water. Although the weather does not appear to have “taken up” permanently, the rain has held off, and the only danger at the present time is from a nor’-wester in tho hill districts. If such wind should get up it would be serious, as there is a very large snowfall on the ranges, extending down into the foothills. Tho Waimakariri River is normal at Kaiapoi, and the flood waters aro rapidly draining away from tho flats. All the houses are now approachable with gumboots. Thick deposits of silt have been left in the houses, and much personal property has been ruined. V: ith the better weather farmers who have suffered losses are now able to ascertain the position. The greatest difficulty for many of them will be to find grazing for stock, as the flood wafers have left coatings of silt on the paddocks, which, during winter in an ordinary year provided a good bite of feed. The hand feeding of stock will have to be resorted to in many instances. TIIE MIDLAND RAILWAY. CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. Over many miles on the Aiidland line the track is broken or blocked by slips, washouts, breakages, and interruptions of various descriptions. At practically every yard there is evidence of the tremendous force cf the onslaught made by the, flood waters on the permanent way. The mere submergence of the line under the masses of alluvial wreckage is t.oo common a feature to be reckoned with in the compulation of the things that matter in causing the blockage of the line. For miles and miles there is practically a chaotic miscellany of wreckage of various kinds on the embankments and hillsides, the ballasting and the track sides, some great, many small, but all threatening the security of the line, and many involving the track itself in the general catastrophe that seems to have fallen on the whole countryside. The damage to tho line that matters is contained in about five miles that lie between Otarama and Broken River. Commencing at Otarama. the agencies of destruction have presented an impressive prer lude by the tearing away of about 150 ft of the hillside, leaving a chasm that is sufficiently impressive in its ugliness to cause one to shudder. The climax is near Broken River, and it is a fitting climax to so impressive a beginning. There the water has chosen its ground so effectively that the filling will be as hopeless as a deviation is unthinkable, and a bridge will have to be built over the tunnel mouths, a few chains anart. One looks out on an awesome gap that opens almost at one’s feet and presents a precipitous drop to the muddied waters of the Broken River, infinite distances below. Above the mountain sides rear iheir scarred disfigured sides to remote heights. The whole spectacle is that of an awful, but cunningly laid, snare, challenging the ingenuity of the repair gangs, and between these two impressive breaks there are smaller pictures in keeping. Away beyond Broken River there arc, of course, other impediments to traffic, but they are minor things. The real damage to the line is between Otarama and Broken River, and the worst damage is at the mouth of No. 9 tunnel. REPORTS FROM MASTERTON. AIASTERTOX, May 11. Tho floods in the rivers are now receding. Reports from Ihe back country state that considerable damage has been done to

the roads by slips, while two bridges have been swept away. Some of the roads are impassable through washouts and slips. Traffic is held up. A very large area of country was under water yesterday, but as the rivers are receding the anxiety of settler o is decreasing. It is feared that much stock has been lost. DAMAGE TO BRIDGES. ESTIMATED AT £50,000. WELLINGTON, May 11. Mr F. W. Furkett (Engineer-in-chief to Hie Public Works Department) gave some particulars of the damage done by the floods in the South Island, especially to road and railway bridges. It is roughly estimated that it will cost anything up to £90,000 to repair* the damage. In instances, Mr Furkett states, that the nature of the destruction is unprecedented, and of a character such as he has never heard or seen before, except in India, where rivers silt up to a depth of 70ft or more. Ihe Clarence bridge, between Kaikoura and Blenheim, seems to have experienced the full fury of the storm and the flood. It was a substantia! structure, wood and steel on cylinder foundations. Except for the piers on the land these cylinders were filled with concrete, but the northern one has been completely washed out of the river bed. T his caused a span to fall into the river, leaving such a large area exposed to the full force of the flood that, the next, span disappeared. The bridge was built 41 years ago. Although no railway lino ran across it provision was made for it, and the structure was strengthened for this purpose. Some of the cylinders, full of concrete, were 35ft in the ground. After withstanding all weathers for over 40 years, two have been washed clear out. The rivetbank lias also been subjected to so much erosion that it is 150 ft. wider at this point than it was Itefore the flood. The amount of damage is estimated from £6OOO to £BOOO. The bridge was the main artery between Kaikoura and Blenheim. Ivaikoura at present is isolated The Conway bridge, between Awatere and Kaikoura, is also reported to have gone “west." 'the piers of this bridge were composed of ironbark piles in double rows, braced together and driven 28ft into the river lied. These have been washed right, out of the ground. Mr Furkert stated that 15ft was usually considered to be a pretty safe dentil for piles, but these piers were driven through gravel till they reded on the solid rock below. Three spans, each 80ft in lenarth, have disaopeared. For cylinders like those in the Ciarence River to be washed out is unprecedented. The Hurunui bridge, between Cheviot Waipara, has gone by the board. This bridge was built on a single row of six ironbark piles, sunk 25ft deep in the shingle, but the flood pulled them all out. Three spans, 52ft each, are lying somewhere in the bottom of the river. This bridge will cost at least £2OOO to replace.

The first great bridge on the Main South road between Cheviot and Waipara has gone altogether. Three spans of the second

great bridge have suffered likewise. These are not gimcrack bridges, said Mr Furkert, they are on concrete piers set in solid rock of six spans each, and 40ft. A length of railway bridge over the Waiau River, near Parnassus, has been washed awsv. N ine of these piles were less than 22ft in the ground and on a solid bed of shingle. It was a combined road and railway bridge, and tile people of Parnassus are getting their provisions across t lie river by means of a wire rope. Mr Furkert says he will not be surprised if it costs quite £50.000 to repair the damage done to bridges. WATER RAPIDLY SUBSIDING. HEAVY DAMAGE INFLICTED. CHRISTCHURCH, May 12. With the sun at last shining over the sodden countryside and flood water rapidly subsiding, attention is turning to a survey of the position and estimates of damage caused. As yet the estimates of the damage are largely guesswork, but reliable authority places the damage to the bridges alone at £50.000, and the bridges are only one item in a long list. The railway staff is unable as yet to even guess at vrhat the total repair bill will be for the tracks. Oil the north line alone there are two months’ work for large gangs before the line is returned to its normal state. Road erosion and slips, damage to private property and destruction of crops, as well as the hold-up to business —all go to swell the total cost which in "North Canterbury alone is expected by some authorities to reach £IOO.OOO. No estimate of damage to the Midland railway line can be made, though it is known it is very great. CIIRLSTt 'HURCH-HOKITIKA. HOKITIKA, May 12. Clements’ motor service made the Christchurch-llokitika connection yesterday, 64 passengers travelling both ways. A large mail was also brought through. The cars are expected to make the through trip without passengers changing from car to car to-day or to-morrow. This arrangement will considerably shorten the time occupied in the journey.