NAPIER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 1, 30 April 1897, Page 26

NAPIER.

THE GREAT FLOOD.

A LOUD, BUMBLING NOISE

THE WHOLE DISTRICT IS IN A HEARTBENDING CONDITION.

" FOB GOD'S SAKE SEND US SOME HELP "

(From an occasional correspondent.)

No doubt you are in possession of full particulars already of the terrible catastrophe that has again befallen Hawke's Bay. This time the storm and its consequences have been the most disastrous within the memory of the oldest settler, and Good Friday of 1897 is not likely to be soon forgotten. From Thursday evening on to Saturday afternoon a continuous downpour of rain with a howling gale indicated that there was danger ahead. About four o'clock there was a slight lull, and hopes were entertained that the worst was past. But no. Suddenly

as of thunder was heard as if coming from the direction of the Ruahine Mountains. This was the terrific rush of the flood waters breaking the river banks and rushing madly over the plains and swamps into the streets of Napier. Those at a distance cannot have the faintest idea of the pitiful scene that followed. The whole town towards the Ahuriri plains was in less time than it takes to describe it completely inundated. Carlyle street, Thackeray street, Station street, Munroe street, Dickens street, Dalton street, Bower street, Clive square, Welsley road and White road, with all the low -lying

parts of the city, were one continuous mass of water several feet high. The scene at this moment was indescribable, the rapidity of the floods being such that every person was taken entirely by surprise. Vehicles were got to work. Boats were put on the principal streets and many brave volunteers did noble work in rescuing those in danger. Whilst this state of confusion was going on in town, the alarming message,

was received at the police station from Clive. Two boats were got ready and ten brave men volunteered to answer the call. This was no ordinary matter, considering that Clive is seven miles distant from Napier and at that moment most of that distance was one sheet of water, with a river in high flood rushing through the midst of it. But, alas! brave as they were it is believed that whilst nearing the river, in the dark of the evening, they got stuck in a wire fence, and, before they could extricate themselves, fence, with railroad and public road, were lifted bodily out to sea. If this be so, and it is the common opinion, as this is the spot where the large washout took place, nothing could save the boats. At any rate not one of tjie ten survives to tell the particulars of their sad fate. The most doleful aspect of this sad calamity is that nearly all were fathers of families, and men such as any town in New Zealand can badly spare. One in particular amongst them, Sergeant O'Donovan, who leaves behind him five small children, is an irreparable loss not only to Hawke's Bay but to New Zealand. This terrible disaster, together with the loss caused in every part of the district, has cast a cloud over the province. The scene since Saturday is indescribable ; wherever one goes he sees roads and fences destroyed, bridges and culverts swept away, telegraph poles and drift wood of every description, dead sheep and cattle by the hundred along the sea beach and the rivers, whilst the plains are covered with silt for miles. In town the doors of the houses are thrown wide open, the furniture and carpets put to dry, whilst the look of sorrow is depicted on every face. Things, it seems, are very little better in Hastings, except that we hear of no deaths from there, whilst the inhabitants of Clive, who were just only pulling themselves together after the serious losses they sustained in the memorable flood of 18i»3, are almost in a state of despair, and

The Mayor has called a public meeting for Thursday, and ha 9 wired particulars to other parts of the Colony. In the meantime a committee of ladies and gentlemen are doing all they can for the immediate wants of the sufferers. There is much sympathy for the widows and orphans of the brave men who sacrificed themselves in such a noble cause, and yet there are hundreds of others as badly off as they are. Indeed, the calamity in all its aspects is so deplorable that ft has no parallel in the history of New Zealand.

The All Nations Catholic Grand Bazaar, which was to open on Tuesday next has been postponed indefinitely. A meeting of the congregation was held in St. Patrick's on Sunday evening after Vespers, for that purpose. The Very Rev. Father Grogan told the congregation that the time of a bazaar was usually a time of joy and amusement, consequently in the face of the terrible disaster which has brought sorrow and desolation to so many homes in the district he did not see any other course open but to have the bazaar postponed for the present. He very much regretted this course but in the present circumstances it was a necessity.