A Destructive Waterspout.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8137, 22 January 1895, Page 1

A Destructive Waterspout.

{ Wainwa Plains Review.') ' Shortly after 6 p.m. on the 12th ary, the residents \vithinr a' raflius': of several miles of ( the Middle Dome were alarmed at the sound ' ioPia : terrific roar, the cause of which at first was unaccountable. It was supposed to be. the presage of a thunderstorm; but on looking towards the Dome and Mount Selma the reason was ! soon perceived. A tremendohs water-spbut had bprst over these mountains,' the water - from which'was rushing in a ; torrent down the M’Neil Gorge and Eyre Greek, 1 and carrying all before it.; The extent Of the slush and debris —trees, scrub, etc.— washed down can hardly be imagined, lying oh the countryfin places (within a radius of a couple of miles) to a depth of three drf'ourfeet. The roadbetweenEyre Creek and Parrawa was deeply cut ; up, huge holders and deep ruts being left; Mr Gibson, who is the chief sufferer, is to be sympathised with, ! 'his clover paddocks being- changed in a moment into a quagmire, and half of his crop, which was looking very promising,; has been washed away. The fences, for a distance of about two,miles, were rendered worthless, being laid* on the ground. Several rabbiters; had to quit their quarters at brief notice, barely saving their belongings. One, a son of Mr Selwood, of the Parrawa Hotel, had a narrow escape, as lie only got away in time, after unloosing his dogs. His hut was afterwards submerged by the debris. Some idea of the extent of the damage to the road may be gathered from the fact that it took,our reporter two hours to cbirie from Parrawa to Eyre Creek, and the journey was then only made with' difficulty, as both sides of the mountains are considerably washed away.