Human effort is necessarily unavailing before the opening wide of the flood gates of Nature, and all attempts at prevention and repairs must prove idly futile until such time as the rain ceases and the waters diminish. To-day large tracts of the province are covered with water.
Brooks have become rivers, rivers roaring torrents, and lakes have expanded to the dimensions of inland seas.
Railway communication is dislocated. Over large stretches of permanent way traffic is impossible, and can only be carried on in a spasmodic fashion over small sections of railway.
The fact of there being no signs of an early cessation of heavy rain is being viewed in low-lying and riverbank localities with alarm, and the fact of there being from 3ft to 4ft of snow at Naseby and elsewhere causes even the most casual thinker to wonder what will happen if that comes away.
The express from the south did not get through, which, as the line near Allanton was submerged for a distance of three miles, is not surprising. The train due to arrive at Dunedin at 7.5 p.m. was full of passengers, who were all detrained at Milton, where the engines have been stalled temporarily. The 4.25 got as far as Mosgiel, when it was stopped, and the train usually leaving Dunedin at 5.45 p.m. did not run.
The only through communication was then with Mosgiel on the one side, and with Port Chalmers on the other.
Advices received at Dunedin Railway Station at 10 p.m. stated that the train which left Clyde at 8.55 a.m. yesterday and that which left Omakau at 8.40 a.m. were both fast snowed up somewhere in the vicinity of Wedderburn.
Last evening a slip occurred on the Lower Port Chalmers line between Sawyers' Bay and the tunnel, and another slip on a large scale on the Upper Port Chalmers line south of the station. The 9.15 train from Oamaru was unable to get through, but managed to get to the Upper Port Chalmers Station. Some of the passengers procured accommodation in Port, while others walked to Sawyers' Bay, and finally reached Dunedin.
Having submerged the country at Allanton, the water crept up steadily towards the railway station, which stands on higher ground, converting it into an island.
Inch by inch it rose, covering the sleepers, then the rails, and finally rising to the level of the platform, overflowed it. As there were no trains running the stationmaster sent away his subordinate, who either waded or swam to his home.
Still the water continued to rise till it trickled in through the door, and flooded the floors of the offices. The stationmaster still stuck to his post, but at 9.15 p.m. the following message from the stationmaster, Allanton, was received at Dunedin: - "Am standing in 8in of water. Await instructions."
The reply sent was: - "Go home immediately."
The fact of there being 8in of water in the telegraph office last night will give some idea of the depth of water covering the surrounding country. No information came to hand as to how the station-master carried out this last order.
A view of the Taieri district during yesterday made it seem as if this fertile plain was about to return to its original condition of an enormous lake. The residents stated that yesterday's rainfall was the heaviest experienced for many years.
July 12: Naseby - The snow is about 5ft at Naseby, the only track into the town being a ditch 18in wide made by horses.
The farmers all around the road are snowed in, and apparently are having difficulty in maintaining their stock.
Naseby itself presents a remarkable sight. Trees, with which the town is richly endowed, have been broken and uprooted in all directions, while those remaining upright bear a terrific burden of snow.
The snow is about level with the main street fences, while the majority of the buildings have snow piled high on the roofs and round the sides.
Ordinary business, except that in the shops, has been practically suspended.
The people in the streets move about in a series of ditches, only their heads and shoulder showing.
The most serious loss is that sustained by the proprietor of the Mount Ida Chronicle, whose office caved in, mixing up all the case type and making the removal of the machinery to other premises necessary.
Much anxiety is being felt for isolated miners and rabbiters in the back country.
One of the latter was admitted to the hospital to-day after a terrible experience. His name is James M'Cormack, and he left Naseby on his return to Kyeburn Station on Tuesday. He was caught in a snowstorm, and sheltered in a small natural cave, where he remained till Friday morning without food or fire. Then cold and hunger drove him out, with his feet so severely frostbitten as to render them useless.
He crawled over three miles to an outlying house, reaching it on Friday night. He was succoured there, and was brought to the hospital. It is expected that the amputation of both his feet will be necessary.
Parties set out on snowshoes to-day to relieve the isolated persons referred to.
July 19: Drifted snow has for nearly 10 days blocked the line between Ranfurly and Oturehua (Rough Ridge). A single engine with the plough had bored nearly through to Wedderburn, but the snow, 5ft deep, had been frozen hard, and successive rushes only resulted in the derailment of the engine.
On Thursday a large quantity of snow fell, making matters worse than ever. Yesterday the department determined to make a big effort, so two engines coupled took the ploughing in hand.
This continued throughout the day, and when darkness fell two miles of the line had been ploughed, which, as no more snow had fallen was regarded as encouraging. This long snowdrift along the line, by reason of it being congealed, is one of the hardest things in which is now a very hard district.
The only thing tougher is the ground itself, which rings like iron to the tread. Several attempts were made in places to make an impression with a pick-axe, but the only impression made was on the pick, the point of the implement being turned.
Snow-ploughing with the coupled engines is to be continued to-day and to-morrow when the line is expected to be cleared.
August 28: Lauder - Ranfurly, Rough Ridge, St. Bathans, and Cambrians all have the same tale to tell.
Snow that lies thick and frozen, and will not thaw; sheep that are hidden in snow drifts, slowly perishing; stock that wander about on the frozen earth, crying for food and slowly growing thinner - dying before their owners' eyes for want of sustenance and of cold; men that work from daylight till long after dark, seeking out buried sheep and conveying them to other places, only to watch them slowly starve.
All the country around is under snow, most of it 2ft deep. The only clear road is the railway line; practically all the district roads are heavy with snow-slush, water, and mud, and travelling over them provides few joys.
The snow has lain now for just on eight weeks, and may lie for some weeks longer.