THE TOWN OF WEST MAITLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 98, 3 May 1870, Page 2

THE TOWN OF WEST MAITLAND.

From the High-Btreefc railway station up to the Btores of the Messrs. Capper, a .distance of nearly half a mile, this main thoroughfare of the town was submerged, together with the whole of the branch streets running at right angles to it, embracing Abbott-street, Sparkestreet, Wades-lane, Devonshire-street, Albertstreet, and Victoria-street, all of which are densely populated. From the station up to the theatre the water was running in a regular stream through the bottom apartment of almost every house, the dismal aspect of which to the eye of a stranger can only be properly imagined by those who have been eye-witnesses of similar scenes. At the Government embankment the river was higher than I have ever before seen it, running flush with the top of the level or pathway, on the top of which foot passengers walk, and the level of which is at least four feet above the roadway. .. The corporation men were busily engaged, under the direction of Mr. Darley, I imagine (for I saw him on the ground) in strengthening the embankment where it was weak, and raising it where it was too low, to prevent the overflow of the water. This structure, which cost the country so many thousands of pounds, is another proof of haw little is known by our Government engineers respecting the flood levels in the Hunter. This embankment was supposed by Mr. Moriarty, to be nearly three feet above the 1867 level—it has sunk a foil or go since it was built, and yet here in a uuod which at the time I apeak of, had not.

attained the '67 level by six inches, we hata the river more than level with the vert crown of the highest portion of the structure I /■ Verily, a flood commission was very much : / required! Let us hope the flood commis- ("' sioners will profit by the evidence they have 1 so recently taken. As I stood looking at this I embankment, which I cannot help thinking is in a rather unsafe condition, I thought what a fearful disaster there would occur were the raised pathway abovementioned to be carried away suddenly. That all the houses on the opposite side of the street would be swept bodily away there cannot b» a doubt; and yet the inmates of these houses were standing in their front rooms surveying the scene as calmly and coolly as though they were in no more danger than people living miles away. Just the same was* it when the two houses on the other side were washed away in 1864. The inmates were warned again and again of their denger; but the warnings were unheeded, and a melancholy loss of life was the result. From the embankment upwards High-street presented a strange appear- - ,' ance. Many of the shops were shut, and as a matter of course, business was oorrpletelv at' a standstill! There was the usual number of drays and vehicles of every description conveying the poor flooded-out people to the School of Arts and other public buildings. The civic authorities appear to be on the alert,' and at the various embankments throughout ■ the town, men were stationed to consolidate and strengthen them wherever the slightest sign of a breach was apparent. The newly organized water brigade had mustered in full force, and well manned boats might be seen in every direction, ready to start at a moment's notice on their errands of mercy and humanity. To give a more vivid idea of the state of Highstreet at one o'clock on Monday, I have only to mention that boats were moored in front of the premises of the mayor (W. H. Smith, Esq.), at the Mercury office door, opposite the Volunteer Hotel, lately kept by Alderman Olliffe, and in front of tne stores of Mr. Coupland and the Messrs. Capper.