THE FLOODS ON THE COAST. WAIKANAE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 2555, 5 October 1874, Page 2

THE FLOODS ON THE COAST. WAIKANAE.

(From our own [Correspondent.) Tuesday, Sept. 29,

This settlement has been visited by a flood, the equal of which has not been experienced for a great number of years. The continued nor'-west wind and inces sant heavy rains on the mountains have brought down a fresh which may be characterised as simply fearful. The whole of the interior is under water and the damage done to fences and cultivations cannot be estimated at present. Hitherto there is no appearance of the weather clearing up, the mountains and the island of Kapiti being still invisible, through being enveloped in heavy clouds and mists, a singulaily bad omen,asthe old weatherwise prophets predict. Acres of laud have been carried to sea, and the beach is literally strewn with timber, fencing, carcasses of sheep and cattle, dead bird*, immense logs, and pieces of wreck. At midnight, at the top of high water, the scene at the mouth of the river was singularly wild and grand- The river was encroaching upon the enclosed paddock at the hotel, which was disappearing in huge slices, each as it fell into the river ciusing a tremendous splash, the noise of which mingled "with the loud roar of the surf. The surface, of the river, and as far as the eye could reach to seaward, were one mass of . timber rapidly floating towards the ocean. The accounts from the various settlements on the Coast all tell the same tale of disastrous inundations, severe damage to property, and serious inconvenience to travellers. The coach from Wellington arrived here from Pahautanui at noon today, having been detained in consequence of several heavy slips on the Horokiwi Valley road. Jhe state of the river precluded a) 1 possibility of itsfurther progress, and it will piobably make

another start— the third from Welling ton— to-morrow morning. The telegraph linemen from both ends have been here to-day, bringing the information that communication is totally -suspended. Poles are down in all directions on the Coast, and many others are momentarily threatening to fall. The high tides, heavy suif, and floods combined, have raised the beach in numerous places to such an elevation, that a pedestrian can easily reach the wire, and it will be a considerable time before the linesmen's duties on this portion of the coast 'vill have been completed. At present the numerous fords on the various rivers present numerous and dangerous obstacles to travellers, several of the streams having entirely altered their former channels, and where the original fords existed, there may now be found ten or twelveleet of water in to which depth the former coach road into the paddock adjoining the hotel at Waikanae now leads directly. The severe weather has caused the death of numbers of sheep, some through exposure, and others through having been surrounded by water, and literally starved to death. A number of sailing vessels and steamers have sought the friendly shelter of Kapiti during the past week, and a large barque seems to prefer the comparatively smooth water there to be found, to the tempestuous billows surrounding it, as she has not altered her anchorage for several days. Unless a change takes place, the effect will be disastrous upon the crops lately, sown, as a considerable portion of the seed has been discovered to be rotten, through the soil being so completely submerged. Your correspondents in Poxton, Otaki, and Rangitiksi, will doubtless inform you of the results which must inevitably have followed such an unprece dented meteorological condition of things, and almost incredible rumours of which have even now reached us.

[Owing to the disarrangement of the coach service by the bad weather, the foregoing letter did nob reach us until Saturday.]