THE LATE STORMS.

West Coast Times, Issue 591, 16 August 1867, Page 5

THE LATE STORMS.

GKEAT FLOODS IS EJ3TLAND.

Although during the past few days the weather has been very stormy in Westland, yet it appears to have been mild compared with thfit which has swept over some of the plains of Eastland, where 1 the rain has fallen in such great quantity as to cause the rivers to overflow their banks, laying the country for miles under water, destroying sheep by thousands, inundating the roads, and for a time putting a stop to all traffic.

The following extracts from a private letter received by the last mail from Christchurch will be read with interest : —

The writer is a gentleman on whose statements the greatest reliance may be placed. He says — '• The road from Leithtield to the Hurunui is entirely gone, and the country is in a worse state than it was before a surveyor saw it, and the stationholders in that direction have had their sheep washed away by thousands. " Cobb's coach has not run on that road for some days past, and Messrs Cobb and Co. have been compelled to pack the mails on the south road.

"The state of "the Waitaki country from floods has been such that no traffic has taken place there; and all around Temuka and the Orari ihe terrible effects of the water will long be remembered.

"At the Selwynlandßaikaia,dead lambs and sheep have been coming down the rivers in droves."

Such is the picture given of the we'ilher on the plains of Canterbury ; a picture not colored, but drawn by one w hose position is such as to enable him to ootaiu authentic inforniation.

THE OVERLAND BOAT).

On Saturday week last, a man named Harry Lawrence started on foot from Christcliurch to walk to Hokitika, he arrived in town en Saturday night, having accomplished the journey in eight days, after enduring great hardships in crossing the mountain ranges amidst furious storms of wind and snow.

With no other companion than a small dog, which at times he was compelled £o carry on his back through the snow, he managed to nnke his way often wading up to hi^ middle through snow drifts, and on one occasion whilst crossing a river he had to cling to the branches of trees which had fallen into the stream, and t'iu>: pull himself across holding the dog by his tet th. When crossing Porter's Pass he was ben.-gb.ted, and ns it was snowing heavily he took refuge for the liight in a roadman's hut. Jhe next morning on awaking they found the snow so deep that they had to cut their way ouc with shovels.

Lawrence describes the snow as being very le.ep on Porter's Pass, so deep as at pre>ent to be impassable for vehicles, but a hor.->e track has been made so as to give access to the Christchu'ch road.

The snow on Arthur's Pass was on Saturday last from three to four feet in depth. He states that Mr Sale and the rest of the passengers who were left at the Cass siarled on horseback on Wednesday morn n;;, and having succeeded iv crossing Porters P.iss, were met by the coach from Christchurch, which at once proceeded with them to the capital.

The weather has been most inclement along the whole line of road. From Christchurch until nearing Porter's Pass it was one deluge of rain, and troni thenue until past the Otira Gorge snow had fallen very heavily. The gale which swept over Hokitika on Tuesclny appears to have been more violent! ou the Christchurch side of the ranges — so tremendous was its force at M'Rae's, at the foot of Porter's Pass, that a spriug cart which was standing before the door was upset, and whirled about as if it had been straw ; whilst Cobb's coach, from which the hor-.es had been taken out, was driven by the wind alone for some fifty yards, ouch, weather as that which prevailed lavt week has not been known by any of the settlers along the line of road.

AttBIVAL OF THE MAIL.

In conspquence of a telegram which he received from the Bealy, Mr Crawley, the manager of the coaching establishment of Messrs, Cubb and Co, in Hokitika, started on Saturday, on horseback at 1 p.m., to meet the mail from Christchurch. He arrived at Mr Walter Kay's adc 'mmodation house, Otira Gorge, shortly after seven o'clock, and there found Mr Grainger with the mail which lie had brought in a waggonette, drawn by two hoses ns far as M'Uae's, on the Christchurch side of Porter's Pass, and then packed it the remainder of the way. After remaining until 9 p.m., IVIv Crawley started on his return to Hokitika, which he reached at 5 o'clock yesterday morning, having ridden one hundred miles in j-ixteen hours, besides leading a pack horse with the mails. The mail which Mr Crawley took from here on Saturday, was to be forwarded from the Otira Gorge to Christchurch early yesterday morning.

An attempt to escape from the gaol was made within the last few days by four prisoners, named Charles ITuskisson alias Gorman Charlie, Thomas Brecy, John Hartly, and John Sullivan. These men, who were in irons, were all confined in one cell, and they managed to get possession of a file, and to manufacture a saw from a bit of steel which they got from a crinoline, and they commenced cutting their irons. Their plot was, however, known, and, when they least expected it, they were watched, and in the end taken in the act of endeavoring to free themselves. German Charlie, whose irons wore nearly cut through, id well-known as a very desperate character. It is said that these men meant when sent out to work, to throw off their irons and take to the bush, where arms and clothing were awaiting them. Grout credit is due to the gaoler, Mr Cleary, and his wardens, for having frustrated the plan of these men.

Wo learn fro.n fclie " Wellington Independent," of the 3rd instant, that a circular letter issued from the office of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Australian and New Zonlund Governments, states that His Royal Highness the Dake of Edinburgh will visit the following places : — Rio Janiero, Cape of Good Hope, Wostorn Australia, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart Town, Van Diemuu's Laud, Auckland, and Wellington, and mny probably proceed from here to Tahiti, calling at Rio or St. Helena on his return to England via Cape Horn in 1868. We bolioye that His Royal Hij-hness will urrivo in New Zealand about November. The circular does not appear to refer to Christuhureh or Dunedin, but while His Royal Highnoss is in Now Zoaland it is nioro thtin probablo that he will visit other places bitsid.es Auckland. «nd, Wellington.