WAIRARAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1490, 18 January 1861, Page 5

WAIRARAPA.

(To the Editor of the Wellintjton Independent.) Wairarapa, 13th Jan. 1861. Sir, — We have had rather a remarkable week Monday was line and sultry, the evening sun set in a palled muss, au haziness hovered o'er tbe southern mountain peaks, and night drew her mantle over as delightful aneveniug as ever man could wish to enjoy, yet in the south a dark mass was observed to be gradually stealing o'er the star spangled heavens, and about nine o'clock a rude S.W. gale rushed through the valley, making the forest hero's bend and break, and the stripling orchard trees, shivered in the blast, scattering their luxuriant fruit around, almost incessantly fell the rain and for 72 hours while the roaring of the winds through the woods, and its bowlings over the plains, gave a truly wintry aspect, except where ripened crops lay smitten to the ground, and the hay ricks 1 were scattered hy the wind, aod this sight blended badly with tbe sanguine hopes of an abundant harvest, and gave rise to heart sickening sensation:'.

On Thursday morning the cutting south winds yielded to a more temperate blast, the slanting rain showed that the wind here was more westerly, and it was not until thea that any material rise took place in the Wuiohine, although we had had 60 hours rain. All day on Thursday the river rase gradually ; about 3 p.m. bank high, 4 p.m. in my house, 6 p.m. drove me out of th_ house, and we had to wade through the water a full half mile, ere we again set foot upon dry gtound, we found that the Maories had taken possession of the house upon the rise, and that being the.oase we travelled on to the Pioneer Hotel, where we found comfortaide quarters and from youngest to the oldest, we not only looked but felt like drowned rats. It was not until Saturday morning tbat we once more took up home quarters, and I am happy to say although the flood has been all over the culti vatio_n, the crops aio not apparently damaged five per, cent, or are the crops all through Car terton worse damaged upon an average, and yet the flood has been within 14 inches of as high in my house as it was at the high flood ib 1858, and under the bridge the water was j higher, yet the bridge is perfectly safe ar.d I once more reiterate that it is oue of the permanent structures in this Province, and the settlers now fully appreciate the great. benefit that it affords to the community, and it »s to be hoped that a number of equally useful bridges will be erected in this district. '

You will be sorry to learn that Mr. Morriscin one of the oldest settlers in the valley, has been washed out of house aud home,, also it is repoited that Mr. Bid well's Farm has suffjre'd greatly. It is also said that the Maories.. have lost some cattle and crops, and from all that II can glean at.pr.esent* there 13 00 recollection of such a flood previously in the Ruamahunga; and when the full particulars, are kriown^ we shall hear of further serious losses. Tae roads are a

■ little damaged in Greytown, a little upon Car- ; , terton side, near the bridge ; and the Engineer has given orders for the immediate repairs. JOHH As_tJ£OßE.