FLOODS IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 1628, 9 December 1879, Page 2

FLOODS IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Tho heavy rain of Saturday and Sunday ecoms to havo been experienced all over the district of; South Canterbury. Fromotl dirccf,ioDß come reports of bridges washed away, crops laid, and cut grass darnoged. Yesterday morning we despatched reporters m various directions, and tho result of their observations is as follows : — Tho Bangitata began to riso Into on Saturday evening, niid, for a snow rixor, tho flood m it was an exceptional circumstance, when it is taken iuto consideration that no nor'-wostors have boon experienced so far m this district. It has for a long time past beon a recognised fact that tho Bahgitata, Rakaia, Waitangij and other streams oro dependent on the melting or the snows for their floods. In this inatance, howoTcr, it has turned put tho rain has had a good deal to do with tho floods m tho large rivers. Strange to say, although last year a vory largo proportion of lha Bangitata wutor camo down what is called tho Crook, m this instnnco little or nono has done ro. Tho Orari looked very ugly on Sunday afternoon, but yeetorday morning the water bad markedly oleared. Tho Opilii and its branohes wore m high flood oh Sunday, and the traffic bridge over the Opihi, on the Main South Bond, a footbridge, over the same etroam, a few miles higher up, and tho footbridge ovor the Tomuka river, near lloHowayV, havo been rendered dangerous hnd impasmble, and are notified as mob by tho Temuka Boad Board. Wo learn that a very narrow escape, near Albury, took plaoe on Sunday evening, owing to the flooded elate of tho rivere. Tho water rose almost up to tho floor of' the second storey of 'a certain tenement, and it was only at great risk that tho inhabitants wero saved. In tho Totara Valley, Waitohi Flat, PleaBant Valloy t and- other adjoining districts matters do Dot seem to have beon mnch better. We learn of crops being laid, slicop drownod, hay damaged, etc., m all directions. — ; To the south of Timaru wo ore informed that many farmers bavo suffered sovoroly,> especially on low-lying lands. In tho noighboihoods of Otaib, Makikihi, and Wiilio, many, fields may be obtcrred under water. Tho Waitangi was m very heavy flood yesterday morning, and it is feared thit more unpleasant news than we have yet. receivtd from tbo Hakntoramca and othor back country districts will yet como to hand. Owing to the unceasing exertions of the Bailnroy Dopartmont, the rop.iirs to the line south of tho Otjiio wero completed iutiii«for yesterday's trains to run to the ofiicial table. This speaks yolumei for tho system invoguo.