THE FLOODS.

Waikato Independent, Volume V, Issue 325, 17 January 1907, Page 5

THE FLOODS.

GREAT DAMAGE DONE. On Tuesday the chief topics of conversation were the weather and the big flood in the Waikato. During the day large numbers of the townspeople made their way down to the Karapiro and Waikato bridges; the former river was in high flood and the Waikato was a magnificent sight, the water being higher than it has been since the big flood of 1874. At 4 o’clock in the afternoon the river had risen to within about six feet of the bridge, and the seething waters were swirling along at a mighty rate —probably seven or eight miles an hour. Although the heavy rain had given place to a drizzling mist, the Waikato was steadily rising hour by hour, and fear was expressed for the safety of the bridge, which had recently been patched up owing to its unsound condition. Fortunately, the weather cleared by night, otherwise, bad the rain continued heavy, nothing could have saved the bridge from being carried away. As it was the river continued to rise till midnight, and it is reported that the water had then reached to within four feet of the planking of the bridge. Since then the flood has slowly but surely gone down, although the Waikato is still many feet above normal. Opinions appear to differ, amongst old residents of Cambridge, as to whether' the Waikato was as high on Tuesday as in 1874, which up till then was noted as the record Waikato flood. Most old residents, however, aver that the Waikato in 1874 was even higher than on Tuesday, while others maintain that there was little if any difference between the two floods. It would, for future record, be interesting to know definitely, if that is possible, which was the greater of the two. [Since this was set up, we learn that the Ngaruawahia bridge record shows that > Tuesday’s flood was 18 inches above that of 1874.] From all parts of the Waikato come reports of damage to, or the total loss of bridges and culverts. The No. 1 bridge at Hamilton was completely submerged; bridges on the Whatawhata road and the Raglan road have gone. The bridge on the Tamahere Station road is reported to have been swept away. Yesterday word was received ithat the bridge at Whitehall had been carried away. It is reported that several culverts have been washed away atTauwhare. A large quantity of timber floated down the Waikato River early yesterday morning from the Hora Hora bridge, which has given way. At the Narrows, the Waikato river was a magnificent sight, the water having risen over twenty feet, rushing down the bridge defile at a terrific speed. At Ngaruawahia and lower down the, river overflowed its banks and several houses had two or three feet of water above their floors. At Huntly large numbers of houses were partially under water, and horsemen and others between Ngaruwahia and Huntly found it impossible to ford some of the roads, which had been converted into creeks. Beyond Huntly a much worse state of affairs prevailed, and the line is in a dangerous condition. Communication with outlying settlements is partly cut off, but the losses sustained by settlers is supposed to be heavy. At Waiuku the country was flooded, and many settlers had to be rescued from their houses in boats. At Otorohanga the whole township was under water. One family was rescued with extreme difficulty when the water was rapidly rising, and the house threatened to wash away. In the Cambridge district, it would appear that, on the whole, the loss by farmers has not been so great as in other parts of the Waikato. Mr H. Jeffries, Postmaster, Cambridge, advises us as follows;—Rotorua line expected be clear to-day. King Country line clear as far as Te Awamutu ; beyond doubtful. Trains running north as far as Ngaruawahia yesterday. All mails that had accumulated at Ngaruawahia were sent to Tuakau by launches. Launch returns to Ngaruawahia to-day with Auckland mails, and it is expected that these mails will arrive at Cambridge by express train to-day. Service in the opposite direction is also being arranged, and it is hoped soon to hear that the railway has a steamer running on the river regularly, bridging the gap and restoring communication. In the meantime the post office is doing everything possible for mails.

LATEST PARTICULARS. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Hamilton, This Day. The Waikato has had no mails from Auckland since Monday in consequence of the floods, and damage to the line. The Rotorua express arrived at Hamilton 11.15 last night, more than two days overdue. The flood waters arc now subsiding. The Waikato river at 9 this morning having fallen sft. The damage in this district is very serious. A large number of bridges have been washed away and the main roads rendered impassable. Communication with country districts in many cases is cut off. Crops in all directions are ruined.

There is no loss of life, and little of stock. Severe hardships prevail, many families being driven out of their homes by the advancing water. Several flaxmills were inundated and the employees thrown out of work. It is not at present possible to arrive at a fair estimate of the damage. MAN DROWNED AT WHATAWHATA. Hamilton, This Day. The floods are supposed to have caused a drowning fatality, which occurred at Whatawhata, ten miles from Hamilton .yesterday. A man named Thos. Waugh left for the township in the morning to post a letter and not returning, a search party was instituted, his horse being found on the bank of the Whangapai creek, which is in high flood. The body has not yet been recovered.