The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Ooast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1879.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 804, 9 June 1879, Page 2

The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Ooast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1879.

Poverty Bay suffers from a second 'flood, and although not so destructive as that which hefel the districi some four years ago, has yet been very disastrous m its consequences ; and has come at an evil time. We cannot give a clearer description of the disaster than by relating the following : — -Yesterday morning, at nine o'clock, Messrs. Boylan, Brassey, Ratcliffe, and Arthur, started m a boat from the boat-shed to proceed up river with the object of rendering such assistance as might be m their power, whether to preserve life or save property. The river was then running with such force and. volume, that, although, all four gentlemen are expert, and practised oarsmen, the time occupied m pulling a distance of a little over three miles, made it five hours of hard and exhausting work. On reaching a little beyond the Rose-

i land Bee farm, the whole country was seen to be under water $m some places, four^five; and six feet of flood covering the ground. Turning to the ~ left Messrs. Boylan and party pulled j over; land under cultivation, until they reached a part of the road near Mr. Espies location, between "Wiaerenga-a-hika and # Makaraka. Steering again to the left, they were enabled to float their boat until they reached within a few yards of the Koseland Hotel. To those who are familiar with this, part of the dis- ( trict, it will not be difficult to imagine the mischief which has been done, and the property which has been destroyed or injured. On Saturday night, the dwellers L m and around Matawhero took alarm and left their dwellings making for higher ground, where they received shelter and hospitality from their more fortunate '< fellow-settlers. The cause of this flood arose from the overflowing of the Big River nearly mid-way between Orraond and Waerengara-' hika. All the low-lying parts, within a few minutes after the overflow, became inundated ; and as at this time the rain continued to pour down m : torrents, the heavens showing no in- ' dication of abatement,, there was gi^t and general conßternatioh.

At the time we write we have not been enabled to obtain full particulars which lias attended this disaster. We know that the holdings of Mr S. Stevenson, Mr Espie, Mr Young, Mr Weston, and their immediate neighbours had their land submerged. We know that a large numbor of .sheep have been drowned, and that yesterday unless means were taken late m the afternoon to relieve them that a very much larger number were likely to perish. A good deal of hay has also been lost, and much property floated away. The storm, which has bean followed by such serious consequences, commenced on.Thursday afternoon with a strong southerly gale, which broke over the distriot, attended with deluging showers. The storm m frequent bursts of heavy squalls, accompanied with rain which never ceased, lasted from the Thursday afternoon until about eight o'clock yesterday —Sunday morning —when there was a slight shift of wind, and indications of a favorable ohango. Showers fell through the day, but these were partial and comparatively slight. Yesterday, between ten m the morning and midday, about fifty persons left town on horseback to examine or enquire into the extent of damage which had been sustained. Little assistance could be rendered. There was a sheet of water extending as far as the eye could reach, the Big River rolling seawards with terrific force. Mr Bee's farm, at Fatutahi, was completely submerged, and we believe some of his cattle were carried down the stream but were eventually saved. This morning the flood had subsided, and the washed-out residents were enabled to get back to their homesteads to make the best of things and repair as far as circumstances would allow the damage which had been done. Fortunately, no grain has been destroyed, and as sowing had not commenced no seed was lost. About eight o'clock on the morning of yesterday, a Maori rode into town and reported that the bridge at Steggall's had been carried away. Fortunately soon afterwards this was found not to have been the oaBO. On a rough estimate made by Mr Young, one of the sufferers, about four miles of ground were under water and about sixty dwellings had been subjected to the flood. It is probable that before going to press we shall have learned further particulars of the disastrous gale.