LATEST TELEGRAMS.

West Coast Times, Issue 1987, 12 February 1872, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

THE DISASTROUS FLOOD AT GUEYMOUTII.

(from our own correspondent.)

GuEYiIOUTH, Feb. 10.

Tho flood was three feet higher than any previously known, It overflowed tho whole town, and a dangerous curreal wii3 running through ail the sttcels, It cut up the streets fearfully, and undermined numerous houses.

On Thursday evening the iiood ear- 1 ried away four cottages abutting Hospital Creek, and subsequently the Tramway bridge and other small bridges.

Yesterday morning all the protection works and front buildings iv tho lower township, below Johnston-street, were carried away, leaving tho block between that street and Boundary-street in a shaken condition.

A fire also occurred and the burning houses floated down the stream.

One boy, son of William Dale, was drowned.

The following is a list of losses :—: —

From Johnston-street to Avneystreet — Anseliue's, Golden Age Hotel ; Hilderbrand and Weber, butchers ; Hicks, fruiterer ; two story building occupied by Mrs Anderson ; Joyce's old store; Foxcroft, tinsmith: Eniskilleu Hotel ; Old Australasian Hotel ; building, occupier unknown; Giesking's store ; Ship Hotel ; two shops; cottage; Cove of Cork Hotel.

Arney-street to Chapman-street — Alcorn'a old store, occupied as a dwelling house ; private dwelling house ; Moutray'e bakery ; Whitrnore's cordial manufactory and private dwelling ; Muller's European Hotel; two cottages and five small dwelling houses ; boatshod and a couple of cottages adjoining ; Powder Magazine.

Avney-street — Dale's cottage, and house adjoining ; Wharton's stables ; Kennedy's bond. Taniui-street seriously damaged. (per grevjlle's telegram company, reuter's agents.) The flood at Greymouth is tho greatest calamity that ever bef'ol tho place. Tho protective works gave way aud the water burst into the town, spreading destruction everywhere. Houses, hedges, one-third the entire frontage of Quay-road, stores, hotels, are gone. More than fifty buildings have -been carried to sea. Other buildings rolled over each other, whilst others are a mass of ruins.

tluutlreds of nieu, women, and children are homeless. Numbers were taken off the roof's of houses by boats. The water is 'now subsiding. Only one boy, W. Dale, is known to have been drowned.

It is feared that the township at Little Grey Junction has disappeared in the floods.

News has been received that the whole of the Twelve-mile township has gone to sea, except one store. Oue man was seen going down river on a snag, yelling for help, which it was impossible to afford to him.

All the roads and tracks in the Grey Valley have been swept away, suspending all communication with the reefs. A large population there is in danger of starving.

Wellington.

The Colonial prize firing is fixed for April 2, and following days, at Christchurch.

Auckland sends no boat to Christchurch to compete in the interprovincial race, owing to a disagreement amongst the committee.

Nklsox.

Mr Lowther Broad has been appointed ltesident Magistrate and Sheriff, &c, vice John Sharp resigned.