Alarming Occurrence.

Southland Times, Issue 11757, 9 June 1891, Page 2

Alarming Occurrence.

! (By Tkleurapii.) Dunkdin, June S. Considerable alarm was caused on the Flat to-day by an extraordinary high tide and the sea at the Ocean Beach, and in the afternoon it became evident that a breach would be made in the sand hills at St. Kilda road, close to the central battery. At 4.80 the sea had cut a channel through and there was a strong stream flowing up the St. Kilda road for about 800 yards, which spread over the low-lying ground. This being the first experience of the kind many of the inhabitants prepared to leave thoir houses, but as the channel was cut through within a short time of high water nothing serious happened. Steps were at once taken to dam back the water against the next tide by filling up the channel and placing bags of sand as a protection. At St. Clair the remaining portion of the sea wall has disappeared and most of the esplanade has been washed away. The ncxthigh tide will probably see fieveralaections of land swallowed up and as there is nothing but the line of sand hills, now rapidly being eaten away, between the ocean and St. Kilda, South Dunedin, and part of Caversham, the residents and property -owners are considerably alarmed.