THE GALE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7006, 19 June 1894, Page 3

THE GALE.

The heavy weather experienced during the past few days continued during last night, and save for a few slight breaks the downpour was incessant, and the force of the wind unabated. A large quantity of debris was brought down by the rivers, and the beach is strewn with logs, roots, portions of fences, boats, dams, bridges, and old buildings. Towards daylight this morning the fury of the gale exhausted itself, and later appeared to be nearly spent— although from time to time btrong gusts, accompanied by blinding rain, added to the discomfiture of all who had to pursue their callings outside. It was a relief to those who anticipated damage to, and possible demolition of the Kaiti bridge last night, to find that the structure had withstood the force of the torrent, which, when backed up by the tide nearly reached the decking. Had this bridge succumbed, very great inconvenience would have resulted to persons living on the other side of the river, and it would have been necessary to revert to the former method of punt transit, pending the construction of a new bridge, which would have entailed a very much larger expenditure than the local bodies here would find convenient, considering their financial position. The chief damage done to this bridge was the breaking of one of the piles through the butt of a large tree swinging round with great force against it. The rumor current in. town that the approaches to the Te Arai Bridge had been carried away, we learn, had no foundation. The loss of stock in the country .has not been so great as it was feared it would be, considering the height of the flood, settlers having taken precautions to move their flocks on to high ground. At. three o'clopk yesterday afternoon the flood: wAter bad .reached its highest point, and after that hour it slowly began to recede. The greatest depth on the Orxnond Road was at Espie's .corner, where it reached fully two feet on the crown of 'the; road, the paddocks all around this neighborhood being under water, and in some places reached to the top of the fence posts. From there to beyond Waerenga-a-hika all the low-lying land was Bubmerged. The water was level with the floors in many of the houses, and at Makauri a number of the settlers removed their families, not considering it safe for them to remain, as at the time there were no signs of the weather clearing. On the back road from Waerenga-a-hika to Matawhero the flood, water waß so deep over parts of the* road that horsemen had to swim. From Matawhero to Awapuni there was a great stretch. of water over the low-lying fields.

{the 'damage to culverts, roads, etc., in the Borough should not exceed £100. One of the piles of the Eaiti bridge has been demolished, and several have been injured. The Town Clerk wired to Napier this morning for a supply. There is a possibility of not being able to obtain totara piles of sufficient length— 4s feet each being required. rThe telegraph cable crossing the Turanganui; parted last night, and has nob yet been repaired; A wire has, however, been carried across the river over head. On calling at the County Council office this morning we were informed that no telegrams of an alarming nature had been received from the country, and so far as is ab present known the damage done by the flood has nob exceeded what might have been expected from an ordinary severe winter's gale. The hillsides on the Whataupoko and Kaiti a^e flcarred in a number of places with landslips, many of them being in close vicinity to residences, bub no serious damage has been reported beyond the carrying away of fencing and blocking of roadways. At dawn this morning those living near tho banks of the' river observed a perceptible fall. At eight o'clock the flood at the Turanganui bridge -had diminished by at least three feet, and during the day the river has been gradually falling. 1 0n the Orraond road, on Whataupoko, ab the intersection of Ballance street, a large scour, out has taken place, and the roadway ia impassable for. wheeled traffic. Mr Dewing, manager for Messrs Nelson Bras., has kindly given us the following particulars of ■ damage at the Freezing Work* i— Killing has been stopped owing to bad weather and damage to plant, but will dam nas beenwasned awa^j. including a lofc of solid concrete work of which the. Joi§- wash was ' builc. This caused the pipes to the engines to become blocked, sd that the engines have had to stop until the engineers' can get the pipes cleared. The slip used to put the steam launch Tuna and mutton barges on for repairs is broken up, and much of the timber gone, together with the Tuna's whaleboat and numerous other things. Most of the beacons down the river appear to have gone. The jetties on each side of the river, which connect with the barge in the centre of the river to form a floating bridge, withstood the flood well, although there were some feet of water over the top of the hand rail. At one time the water jra high that [it ran into the houses, and most families removed to Mr Book's for safety. At the sa\ne time the water nearly flooded the engine room.

(Fbom Our Own Correspondents. ) Murewai, 10.31 a,m. ■■ The district was all -submerged, the road being from three to four feet under water. A heavy- slip has occurred along the Wairakaia road. Particulars of the damage- done are not yet to hand. The Natives have been catting a drain to the beach to take off the surface water. Several Natives have been flooded out. I ;;.■•■■:; Tb Abai Bridge, 11.7 a.m. ... Yesterday several families were compelled to leave their homes, and several hundred sheep were drowned, otherwise there was not much damage done in the district. This morning the river is 'subsiding, and there is a slight improvement in the weather. Patutahi, I*ls a.m. The river is going down a little, but it is still raining, and all the paddocks are under water. A great many sheep have been drowned. Messrs Morrow and Dever are flooded out. Farther particulars tomorrow.