The Little River Road.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4793, 10 September 1883, Page 3

The Little River Road.

HOW MAILS WEBB OABBIED THROUGH THB FLOODS. The heaviest rain that has fallen in this distriot for some years commenced on Wednesday evening last, and continued without intermission until early on Friday morning. The mail ooaoh left Akaroa as usual on Thursday morning, but on aooount of a landslip in one of the bays between Akaroa and the Head of the Bay the coaoh had to be left, but the driver brought the horses and mail to the Head of the Bay where he got another conveyance and proceeded as far as Little Biver. There, on account of Lake Forsyth having risen in an I* exceedingly rapid manner, it was found impossible to take the conveyance any further. The driver (Mr Beilby Barker) at once pro*

<—™—*****amammmmmmmm—WMKmaaammßm—mammm eeeded with the mails on borsebaok, and on arrival at Birdling' b Flat, being too late for the train, went on with- the mails to Ohrißtchuroh. Mr W. Alexander volunteered to fetch up the Ohristohuroh mails from Birdling's Flat Btation to Little Biver, and on his return his horse got stuok in a land slip on the road i alongside Lake Fbriyth. He had to leave his horse and oarry the mails up on his back, which, considering the depth of water on the road and its dangerous state, was a very hazardous undertaking, but he eventually arrived at Little Biver all aafe. His horse was rescued on Friday morning. The Akaroa portion of the mail was sent forward on Friday morning. The passengers for Akaroa by Thursday's train returned to town by it. About 2 am. on Friday morn* ing Lake Forty th burst the shingle bank, making abreaoh of some eight chains wide, and emptied itself in tho sea, and is now about as low as it possibly oan be. Ooniiderable damage has been done to the roads by.the'floods. One bridge on the main Akaroa road at Little Biver has been swept away, and some eight or nine landslips have taken plaoe on the road alongside Lake Forsyth, and until these slips have been removed, and the bridge replaced, all wheeled trafßo will be stopped. If the weather keepß fine, the road is expected to be open for traffio on Wednesday. Muoh damage has also been done to the work on Mr Jesse Coates' contract for the _ extension of the Little Biver line, where, in consequence of the unusual height of Lake Forsyth, work has been suspended. As the Lake has now gone out, the work, if the weather is at all favourable, will no doubt be at ones resumed. Lake Forsyth haa been out twice during the present year : once let out, and this time burst out. It is now some twenty-two years since suoh a thing happened.