ASHBURTON.

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

ASHBURTON.

At Ashburton rain fell almost without intermission from Wednesday evening up to the time of the despatch of our correspondent's letter on Saturday evening. The temperature being warm, the rain-swollen rivera were added to by the melted snow from the hillß, and overflowed their bank 3 in many places. The Ashburton river was running a " banker " and still ri_ng. All low-lying land was under water, and several of the road 3 in the Waterton and Wakanui districts were impassable. The number of country people in town was extremely small, and the principal auction sales were postponed, the auctioneers confining themselves to disposing of the few lots oi perishable goods which [had been brought in. Butter was at a premium, owing to the cutting off of supplies. No great damage to property had been reported, but there iB no doubt that some of the flooded lands will have to be re-sown ; and tradesmen have to mourn the loss of a day's trade. The express from the south arrived at Ashburton two hours late, having been detained by damage to the line below Timaru. The Hinds district was flooded for miles, the water in many places being over the railway line. The Selwyn was in high flood, the whole country thereabout appearing to be under water, and the railway for some distance was flooded. The express, however, suffered no detention North of Timaru, and actually made up some twenty minutes of lost time between Ashburton and Christchurch. ■