THE LATE HIGH TIDE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIV, Issue 4139, 23 January 1882, Page 3

THE LATE HIGH TIDE.

4 Saturday morning's tide was unquestionably tho highest that has ever been witnessod since the foundation of Grahamstown. At seven o'clock-nearly an hour-aad-a-balf from tho time of full flood—it was as high as at ordinary springs, but being backed up by a strong north-west gale as well as replenished by the swollen streams, the water continued rising higher and still higher, until'the lower portions of Brown-street and nearly the whole of Albert-street became thoroughly inundated, From the Borough Council Chambers to tho foreshore in Albert street stretched ono sheet of water, averaging at the time of high tido from two to three feet. Numbers of youngsteTs dabbled about in the by no means limpid element, disporting themselves upon planks, rafts, and every other available means of transportation. ,Bank officials, brokers, solicitors, and business men arrived at their usual time, expecting to find their promises accessible, but were astonished to find a limit drawn by the merciless water at tho more olevated part of tho street, the only means of approach being either by the rafts of youthful navigators, or by a lift afforded by some friendly horseman. The latter remedy was in some instances almost as bad as tho disease, for the animals no sooner entered tho water than they started off at a canter, thus drenching their riders. As the inundation subsided, bank managers and clerks and others might, have been observed engaged in employments which, undor any othor circumstances, would have been considered infra dig,, but which inevitable necessity compelled them to undortako. From about half-past eight tho water commenced to recede, but very slowly, doubtless on account of the resistanco it mot with from the gale blowing up tho gulf. Tho wash dashed fiercely over tho reclamation works and tho Burkestreet and Albert-street wharves; and at onetime apprehensions were entertained that tho last-mentioned frail 3tructure would succumb, but although severely shaken it remained without _ breakage. The steamer Rotomahana, which was to have left for Auckland at eight o'clock was unable to proceed in the teeth of tho galo. One of the hawsers attaching tho vessel to her berth was broken by tho strain, and tho steamer swung around, but was soon brought back ogain to her original position. The strong wind continuinguntil the tido wentdown, the captain was obliged to relinquish all intention of proceeding that morning, and dooidod to remain until the next flood, and accordingly loft at six o'olock in the evening. Tho only tradesmen who havo suffered any material damage are Messrs Browno and McDonnell, proprietors of the corn and produce storo opposite our publishing

office. In their store-room several hun drcd sacks of oats were stacked, recently received from Lyttelton by the schooner Jessie, and immense numbers of these were completely spoiled by the soaking of tho water. Mr R. E. McGregor might have sustained a similar loss, but, having foreseen something of this nature from the incidents of the previous evening, he had prepared for the emergency, and raised the greater part of his stock above the reach of. tho flood. Mr Marshall and his employees had made a liko preparation, all perishable goods having been deposited on the counters, well above tho level of the surface of the water, as also had the manager of the Clothing Factory. Mr Osbornohad taken , tho precaution to seal up the interstices of his doorway with clay, but notwithstanding this obstruction the water effected a speedy entrance, but did not causo any serious damage. All the low-lying offices in the neighbourhood of the "Corner" were submerged two feetdeep, which did not improve the papers &c,, in the brokers' establishment. The Bank of New South Wales and the Union Bank of Australia were only a few inches under water, which did not rise sufficiently high to disturb any of the valuables. In Brown-street, Mr 0. McLivcr, assisted by a number of volunteers, succeeded by dint of hard work in preventing the entrance of the stream by the door, but whilo doing so the water forced its way in through tho cracks of tho floor, and all efforts to arrest its progress were unavailing. Very little of his 6tock was stacked upon the floor, so that his loss is merely trifling. In the Pacific Hotel, all tho kitchen fires were extinguished by the rising of the water, so that the numerous lodgers wero obliged to go minus their breakfast for several hours. In the upper storey a number of ladies and gentlemen wero imprisoned, including Mr and Mrs John Sheeban, Mr G. Vesey Stewart, and a number of others. One gentleman becoming restless of the confinement, determined to effect his escape by some means or other, and espying the well-known Fredk. Arntz, of the Telegraphic Department, passing by on a charger, hailed him, and riding out into the \vaste of waters on the shoulders of the Celestial cook of the establishment, he obtained a landing on the back of the nag, and cantered up tho street. The Advertiser office was the scene of indescribable confusion. The composing-room floor was soon covered by the murky stream to a depth of about three feet, on the surface of which floated a mass compsed of "copy," "quoins," "furniture," and other appurtenances of a printing office. Mrs Hales 1 boarding-house, in Queenstreet, was entirely isolated for some hours, being auirounded by water to a considerable depth. It was rumoured during tho morning that the County main raco had collapsed, causing the suspension of all the batteries on the field. On inquiry we ascertained that some accident had certainly occurred, but not so serious as reported, merely consisting in tho sinking of a trestle near Mr Murdoch's property. It is fortunate that this calamity was not of more consequence as any serious fracture in tho race would have resulted in a stagnation of trade similar to that which followed the disaster in June last, a repetition of which would be particularly undesirable under present circumstances of the district.

At Tararu Flat, the tide rose to an extraordinary height, inundating the low portion of the flat, but occasioning no damage to property. The seawall between Tararu and Grahamstown was washed away in several places, thus removing the support of the tramway sleepers. The damage occasioned to the municipal property between Kuranui and the Borough boundary ie assessed at over £500, of which £300 is in the vicinity ofjthe Shellback Cre?k. Several boats, the property of residentsin this neighborhood, were washed from the moorings, and dashing against tho stone facing were completely stove in. Tho Tapu road, opposite tho Tararu cemetery, was washed away for a length of more than a chain, and the flame thing occurred a short distance beyond the Oounty boundary. A large landship fell away from the side of the spur up the Ohio Creek, a shortly above the junction with the Tararu stream, covering the tramway for a length of two or three chains. This accident will materially affect the timber industry carried on in that locality, barring the way for the removal of the product. The immediate cause of tho flood is attributed to the meeting of the freshets from the various cre'-ks with the rising tide, assisted by the force of the northwesterly gale. Towards afternoon the gale abated wonderfully, and the evening and subsequent tides did not riso much beyond their ordinary height. DAMAGE TO PUBLIC PROPERTY.

By tho frolics of tho. elements during the past few days, tho property of tho Borough has sustained a considerable amount of damage. The heavy rain which fell on Friday night had tho effect of again choking up the now famous Waiotahi culvert with gravel and debris washed down from the hills. A staff of 20 men wero employed all day on Saturday removing this obstruction, and by nightfall the courso of tho stream was again free. The channel formed for tho Karaka Creek has become filled with rubbish to a depth of three or four feet from Pollen-street to the outlet of tho stream, and will necessitate a largo expenditure to place it in its former state. The seawall along the Tararti Bo d has suffered severely from the inroads of the water to the oxtent of about £500, so that the repair of the total damage will cost fully £700. The County comes vory littlo short of tho Borough in the extent of their damage. The Tapu road has in several places been washed uway, and the retaining wall of the Waiotahi Creek road sustained a severe shaking, and has in somo places been destroyed completely. In addition to this tho accident to tho main raco brings tho total average to no inoonsiderab'.o amount, At Tararu the whole'eoa wall at Carran's farm was washed away, and cart traffic completely stopped for three milos along the coast. At \Vaiomo_ the track has beon washed away, and it is difficulty for horae travellers to pass to and fro, There is a wealthy brewer in Montreal, who built a ohuroh and s inscribed on it: "This ohuioh was erected by Thomas Molson at his sole expense. Hebrews, xx. chapter." Some of the MoGill College wags got a ladder ono night and altered the inscription so as to raako it read: ".This ohuroh was oreoted by Thomas Molson at his eoul's expense, Ho brows (double) XX." UoUowaft filte-Epidemle Dlioasos. -The ulnrm ing Increase of death from cholera and dtnrrhcea should boa warning to everyone to subauo nt once ftßy irregularity toudlng towards disease. Holli). way's Pills Blioiild now bo in overy household, to rectify nil impure states of the blood, to romody weakness, and to overcome Impalrod gonornl health Notlilug can bo elmplor than tho instructions {or taking this corrective medicine, nothing moro eUlclcnt than its cleansing powers, nothing more harmless than its vegetablolngredlonts. Ifolloway'i la tho best physio during the summer season, when decaying fruits and unwh I • mo vegetables are frequently deranging tho bowels, and daily oxposlng thousands, through thole ncgllgonco in permitting to disordered action, to tho dangers of dlarrhwn, dysentery, and cholera.