Water was flowing over the south bank of the Grey River and flooded to a great volume of the lower portion of Greymouth.

The river in Greymouth was bank high at day break on the 6th and by 10am it had begun overflowing the banks.

Flood levels increased when high tide occurred at 5pm and by 5.30pm on the 6th the whole of Greymouth and Blaketown was flooded by mud and water.

Water flowed down Boundary Street and flooded much of the lower town.

Many buildings were torn off their foundations and washed away.

The bridge between Blaketown and Greymouth was swept away isolating the two towns.

The embankment and wharf were washed away.

The Grey River flooded nearly to the top of the sheet piling.

It was considered to be the highest flood in the memory of the oldest European on the coast and many of the older established Maori in the area.

Nearly the whole length of the costly embankment that had only just been completed was destroyed.

Many people had to be evacuated in boats.

Sandbags were used to contain the flood water.

From the lower end of the wharf about 200m of protective planks had been forced inwards towards the river and in some places were lying almost horizontally. Further along, another section was completely destroyed and washed away, whilst the upper section of the Wharf was greatly loosened. The current had scoured a deep channel in the gravel where the piles were driven.

By 8.30pm water levels had fallen.

At the Twelve Mile township all buildings were more than half covered with water with many being destroyed.

All horses, cattle and sheep were lost in the Twelve Mile area

A bridge was washed away at Redjacks and Omoto racecourse

Two houses were swept away at the junction of the Arnold and Grey Rivers.

Many landslips occurred along the road between Greymouth and the Arnold River, and Coal Creek Flat was completely submerged by floodwaters.

A boy at Coal Creek drowned

A store, hotel and goods were lost.

A man at Nelson Creek drowned