DISASTROUS FLOODS IN CANTERBURY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2304, 2 January 1866, Page 6

DISASTROUS FLOODS IN CANTERBURY.

THE INUNDATION AT, KAIAPOI. The Canterbury I'rcss of the 27th instant says : — "We have received from our Kaiapoi correspondent some further particulars of the damage done by the recent heavy freshes at Kaiapoi. The loss sustained can as yet be scarcely computed, but it must amount to something very considerable. Among others wo hear that Mr. Rickman has been a sufferer by the falling in of his malt-houso built r of cob or sun dried bricks, which were dis- ( solved at the foundations, by the fresh, ( causing the whole to come down about noon 1 on Monday with a heavy crash. The roof j was of corrugated iron, and is therefore pro- c bably not much tho worse. Mr. Rickman t computes his loss by this accident at £300. i Tho next great loser among the merchants *

will be Mr. J. D. Macpherson, who unfortunately had most of his. wool stacked on tha ground flour of his store in Haven-street. At suck a time every one ia apt to look only to himself, and it was difficult to get hands for tho job of raising the wool-bales higher, and though the manager exerted himself to the utmost iu trying to save the wool, his endeavoui'3, unfortunately, were withoutavail. Messrs. Birch and Co. have experienced some loss by the water getting among their wool, but not to any great extent. Messrs. Haine and Shaw, the fellmongers, will also lose a considerably quantity of their wool, which was drying on the shed floor," and, in common with others, was inundated to a considerable depth. Mv. Alfred Weston, the baker, had his premises in Peraki-street, completely flooded. In the bakehouse the water was standing about three feet deep. It is to be hoped that by some means tho water will clear away from that of all places, as all Kaiapoi is dependent on their only baker for their daily supply of bread. It would be difficult to come to any conclusion as to the amount of damage done to property, or to draw any comparison between the various sufferers, who comprise nearly niue-tenths of the whole population of the town. With reference to White's old bridge, the obvious fact that if allowed to remain (at least the moveable portion), it would have been carried away, and brought into no very pleasant contact with the swing bridge, excited the bystanders into making an effort to make matters more secure. Several persons set to work to bring the draw part (which was in the most critical position for floating down) into the bank, but after spending some time in futile endeavours ifcwas sug gested that a rope should be carried out to tho end projecting into the stream ; this was accordingly done, and then some twenty or thirty persons hung on to the rope, and after a few long strong pulls the dangerous piece of the bridge toppled over into the water amid some lusty cheering, and ten minutes saw .the whole firmly secured out of danger. On taking a birds-eyo view of the island from a hill near the remains of White's old bridge, a scene of desolation and watery waste presented itself, studded by houses and trees. During the day a strong norwester blew, which appeared to favor the boating expeditions up the streets on the island. We ought not to omit mentioning Mr. Greening's name who with his boat and crew rendered some good service in removing many persons from .their homes. Mr. Sims also rendered effective help with his dray, in conveying many to places of shelter, and to others credit is also due for their energy in rendering assistance, with whose names we are unacquainted. A large boat of Mr. G. C. Blake's proved very useful, but a little punt belonging to Mr. Hall, which did not draw above three inches of water, was of tho greatest service through being able to get over the numerous shallows. The road to Christchurch was for some time pronounced as impassable, but towards evening on Monday it was again open. Some I damage has been done to several culverts, and the water at the Waimakariri bridge was so high as to flow over in a stream about six inches deep. The iron girder bridge on the Rangiora drain road was completely under water ; tho approaches are. fast washing away, but the stream is decreasing so much that little or no danger to the bridge is apprehended, la many of tho streets the water liaW gone down, leaving thorn covered with a large amount of slime, debria, and decomposed vegetation from which latter a most disagreeable and noxious effluvium is exhaled. The streets which arc now nearly dry aro Charles-street, Jones-street, and Cass-street; on the main laud, the water is |in many of the houses ; in Beswick, Sewell and Jollie streets, and in places where the ground is low, water is still remaining; in some instances above six feet deep. On the island, Raven-street is still covered with water about an inch or so in depth, while Peraki, and the other streets visited are in as bad a plight as ever, although the water is fast diminishing, the river has resumed its ordinary size ; but the eauso of tho water not getting freely on tho sections and streets is attributable to the defective state of the water courses many of which are choked up with docks, grass and rubbish. One or two cob chimneys havo fallen, through being soaked with water, but without doing much damage. His Honor tho Superintendent with the Hon. John Hall and Mr. Dobson arrived in time to see a great part of the damage dono, and it is hoped that something will be done by a benevolent Government towards restoring some comfort to this, now most miserable of miserable places. Higher up tho country, j word has been brought down of shoe}) and cattle being drowned, many of which it appears, were depastured on the river banks. Messrs. Belcher and Fairweather, who had a flock of about 400 sheep on the river bank on Saturday, which' they were then unable to get at, expect that by this time many, if not .all, have perished. Several goats and sheep have been drowned near the town. It is reported also that Mr Donald Coutt's mill, near Kaipoi, has been washed away, with other houses up the island. The girder bridge is in a dangerous position, there being only room at tho approaches for ono horse. The .Kaipoi Municipal Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, when it was detenninod to cut water-courses to allow the water to drain away. Since writing the above, referring to tho permanant aspect of tho question, accounts have come to hand which describe the distress amongst tho inhabitants of the island as likely to be very great. The loss of clothes and tools is considerable, and the ground will not afford labor for some time to come. We believe immediate relief will b , necessary in many instances to prevent ab solute want. The Government will of course do their part, but tho case is ono in which private aid should also be given. Wo hope no time will be lost in sotting on foot a subscription to meet cases of pressing emergency.