SOUTHIRAKAIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6315, 13 August 1888, Page 3

SOUTHIRAKAIA.

In spite of an appearancoi>of' a^change in the weather on Friday night there , is no break in the. storm, and it has rained incessantly since Wednesday night. Friday night was-'the roughest i we have experienced for some time. The rain was from the South-east, nnd very heavy. The roads in the township are some inches deep in places, and

to get to the Bank of New Zealand one must make up his mind for wet feet unless protected by gum boots. The Eoad Board undertook to make an open crossing there some time ago, but the work is not commenced yet. A large quantity of water is running on the country roads and alongside the railway line. The old dry creek is running to some depth, and. a portion of the land through which it runs at least must suffer. No damage in this district is as yet reported, but we cannot carry much more rain without it. The train could not proceed to Methven on Saturday night, as the water was washing the ballast out at Cairnbrae in the, morning. For the past fortnight men have been engaged repairing the line damaged by the last flood, and there is every probability of its having to be done over again. The system of water-races is of very great assistance in carrying off the storm water, and protects a large area of land from damage.