THE FLOODS
The extent and the destructiveness of the floods which are now afflicting Otago, will be vastly greater than could be inferred from the accounts which we published yesterday. Throughout a large portion of the Province, the waters rose terribly during Tuesday night and yesterday. There has not before been a series of floods here which has been comparable with the present for destructiveness. It is doubtful whether there has, since the settlement of Otago, been such an extensive overflowing of the rivers and the lesser streams: if there has, it was when population was very thin, and improvements but few and far between. On Tuesday, the coaches which left Dunedin for Tokomairiro performed both the up and the down journey, despite difficulty and danger. Yesterday, no wheeled vehicle could get further south of Dunedin than the 17-mile post, or something less than a mile from the Reliance Hotel, Otakia. It is true that the mails were forwarded on to Tokomairiro. But what terrible pictures of suffering and loss are conjured up by the statement of how that transmission of the mails was managed! They were conveyed in a boat for nine miles, to the Waihola township, the boat floating safely over many fences, and being rowed against many others so as to displace the top-rail, which was the only obstacle. The Taieri Plain itself, from a point about eleven miles (by the road) from Dunedin, is covered with an almost unbroken sheet of water, in some places deep enough to wash away, or almost to overtop, houses. Towards the West Taieri, from all we can learn, the flood is the deepest. The very costly bridge there has been much injured, apart from its approaches; and there has been at least one life lost — a son of Mr Grant having been drowned while going to his father's assistance. -Otago Daily Times, 6/2/1868.
On reaching the Buck Eye Hotel, I found a number of persons engaged in searching for the body of Thomas Grant, son of Mr. Peter Grant, of Granton, who, it may be remembered, lost another son about a year ago by a fall from a dray. Finding that my further progress towards Dunedin was impossible, the main road being completely covered to an impassable depth, there was nothing for it but to take up my quarters here for the night. I therefore spent the remainder of the evening in ascertaining the losses sustained in the district, as far as possible, no communication having yet been obtained with the farmers of the lower portions of the plain.
Feeling anxious about the safety of their father's family, Donald and Thomas Grant were riding on horseback, accompanied by a friend, through Mr. Borrie's cornfield, and had already passed through what appeared the most dangerous portion of the journey, the horses having had to swim at several places. Donald, the elder brother, had previously requested Thomas to return, as the danger appeared too great, but Thomas, in his anxiety, led the way, but unfortunately was not careful in avoiding a lagoon, into which the horse fell. No doubt the growing corn would entangle the horse's feet, and prevent him swimming freely. Thomas Grant became unhorsed and was observed endeavouring to swim, but suddenly disapeared. -Bruce Herald, 12/2/1868.
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