THE FLOOD AT GREYMOUTH.

West Coast Times, Issue 663, 8 November 1867, Page 3

THE FLOOD AT GREYMOUTH.

(PEOM THE GBEr EITEB ABGU3, 2fOv. 7.) Yesterday Greymouth was visited ■with by far the heaviest flood that has occurred within the memory of the. oldest white resident on the Coast, and higher than can be remembered by any of the Maoris who have been settled here for many years. On Monday night | rain commenced to fall in heavy con- J tinuou6 showers, which lasted throughout that night and during a great portion of the following day and night, and on Wednesday morning at daylight the river was running bank high. Before ten o'clock the water got over the south bank, and commenced to flow in volume into Boundary-street, and over ' the low portions of the Government Township. The rapidity with which the water increased made it evident that a serious flood would occur, but few were prepared to expect the extent to which it reached. Before noon, the river had overflowed all along the front of . Mawhera Quay ; and the whole of the Government township aud the back portions of the Maori Reserves were uuder water, in some places to the extent of several feet. The occupants of the houses in the flooded portions of the town were speedily compelled to evacuate their premises, and boats were busily engaged in rescuing the unfortunate families and their perishable chattels. As it .was not high water until after five o'clock in the evening, it became obvious that the flood would increase, which it did at a most rapid rate. • Along Boundaiy street a heavy current of water set, which was even difficult to cross by boats, not a few of which were capsized and placed in danger. The foot bridge between the two townships was soon swept •way, and peat havoc was done all along the main street. Several of thefront premises were flooded, and great efforts were made, by applying sand-bags and other things, to stay the entrance of the paters. Shortly after three o'clock the bootshopof Mr Southam, which abutted on the corner of the Empire Hotel,gave ■way, and was soon swept away by the ettmnt along Botradary-rtreefc, ftu d

caught against a fence near the stockyard. A boat followed to secure it, and was capsized against some obstruction near the floating house. The crew were saved, although one of them was only just rescued in time. As the tide rose the scone became terrific as the river poured in heavy volumes over the town. At half-past five the whole township— or more correctly speaking the two townships — were covered with water, the best efforts of the residents being ineffectual to keep out the stream from their dwellings. Along the whole j length of the town only two or three isolated spots of dry ground could be seen, and even in their case the current foirned a. way underneath the buildings to the flat behind. About five o'clock a portion of the river protection below the Tramway Shed began to give way, and as the set of the current was making towards the lower angle of the Government township grave fears were felt for the safety of that portion of the town. With commendable promptitude Mr Aitken, Government Surveyor, and others, took measures for ensuring the attendance of as many boats as was possible, in case the worst expectations should be realised. The damage sustained must have been enormous; but as communication was all but impossible between the two ' townships we can, form no accurate idea of the loss that has been occasioned. Fortunately we have no shippiug disasters to relate, as tho craft in the river were well secured by every available means. The p.s. Lioness was moored in the bic?ht above the wharf, and although she was hard pressed to hold her own she sue- , ceeded in weathering the crisis. The p.s. Dispatch was safely moored at tho Cobden Wharf, and the other vessels in the river were also secured. The hotels, and indeed almost every house in the upper township, were thronged with refugees, some of whom had barely had time to fly from their flooded dwellings. We can only form a very vague estimate of the wreck that will be disclosed when the flood subsides. But the picture is sure to be a melancholy one. We can only form an idea, which, judging from present appearances, is that scores of houses will have been injured, if not destroyed ; a vast amount of property sacrificed, and probably life lost. As to the latter fear, it is impossible for us to calculate, as it i". quite possible that cases of drowning may have occurred without at present any knowledge of the fact. The most singular feature of this visitat'on is that it appears to have ! been quite local. The driver of Cobb's coach rode out in the morning and returned from the Teremakau in the afternoon with the mail, and he reports that no flood had occurred at Hokitika, and that the intermediate creeks and rivers were not of unusual volume. The only explanation of ibis that we can hit upon" is that either the rainfall has been confined to the watershed of the Grey, [or that Lake Brunner has forced some unaccustomed outlet. Of course, this narrative cannot pretend to accuracy in its details, as it was impossible yesterday to ascertain the exact particulars Some idea of the extent of the flood n»ay be formed from the fact that at the time the writer is penning these lines the water is surging into his office, although it is situated on high ground, as compared with the rest of the town. The heaviest loss" will have been sustained in tho lower township, and we expect to hear of serious damage having been sustained there. In fact, at the time we write the position of the lower end of the township is exceedingly critical, and we can only hope that the fate which now seems to await it -will be averted by tho falling of the tide and river. Singularly no mi* fell during tho d»y in Gr»y-

mouth ; but the appearance of the sky towards the interior denoted that rain was still prevailing there. We expect to learn that great loss has been occasioned up the river, as during the day the debris of buildings was continually seen borne down by the current ; and, knowing what havoc has been made by previous floods of less extent than this, we fear that the damage has been fearful. It is right to state here that most praiseworthy spirit was evinced by the more fortunate, towards their distressed neighbors, and that everything in the way of hospitality was shown, and every attention paid to those who needed it. At 8 p m., the Tramway Shed, which, for the greater part of the day had withstood almost the full force of the flood, at last gave way, and the whole building was forced from the piles audcunied off, and was ultiniately stranded near the powder magazine. Just alter this time there was a palpable diminution of the overflow from the river, and at the time we write (8.30 p.m.) the water has fallen fully six inches. We can only "hope and trust that the worst is over.