DISASTROUS FLOODS IX THE HUNTER.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2190, 14 May 1870, Page 2

DISASTROUS FLOODS IX THE HUNTER.

REPORTED LOSS OF SEVERAL LIVES. HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES FLOODED OUT. (From the, Sydney Empire's Special fteponei-,] Newcastle, April 25. Suddenly and unexpectedly I am again called upon, in the exercise of my duty as your special representative in this district, to record the occurrence of a high and disastrous flood in the valley of the Hunter, extending this time from Hexham to Musclebrook, and doing more damage above Maitland (if present reports turn out to be true), than any previous visitation. The tine weather avo had been enjoying for the past fortnight or three weeks broke on Thursday last, on the evening of Avhich day the sky became heavily overcast Avith clouds; and the nearness at hand of a decided change Avas manifest to the most casual observerOn Friday morning, it commenced to rain here, at Maitland, Singleton, and all up the

line, continuing almost without intermission until yesterday (Saturday) night. In the district of Maitland and Morpeth, the downpour on Friday night and throughout Saturday was tremendous, the water literally descending in sheets rather than in separate drops. Several trustworthy parties, to whom I spoke on the subject, describe the thickness and impetuosity of the rain as exceeding anything they ever saw ; while others affirmed that it was just such another deluge as the one that preceded the great flood of 1567. One and a 1 agree that the fall of water between Friday raorninc and Sunday morning was immense, but still scarcely any one seems to have been prepared for a thirtytwo feet rise in the river by Monday morning. Great as the downpour unquestionably was in Maitland and the surrounding district, it is certain that at Branxton, Singleton, Glennie’s Creek, Musclcbrook, Scone, Murrurundi, &c., it must have been greater still, for no amount of local rain could have caused a river like the Hunter to rise so unprecedentedly quick and high as it has risen on this occasion. The river commenced to rise in Maitland early on Saturday morning, and continued rising all the day, though not at such a rate as to give rise to any serious apprehensiors of another flood. By evening it had attained a height of about tea feet above the previous day’s level, and was still rising. The next morning (Sunday), to the utter astonishment of every resident in town, it had risen to flood level—viz , some twenty-six or twentyseven feet above low water level, as shown by the guage at the Belmore bridge. The extreme suddenness of the rise took every one by surprise, and it is fortunate that the residents of the Horseshoe Bend and other low-lying localities had daylight for it, or otherwise a considerable number of persons must of necessity have been drowned. I was assured on the authority of several who had takpn particular notice of the fact, that between ten o’clock on Saturday night and six o’clock on Sunday morning, the Hunter, at Maitland, rose no less than (ifteen feet in perpendicular height—a rise the rapidity of which I believe to be without parallel in the history of the district The water continued to rise slowlp throughout Sunday night, and up to two o’clock to-day (Monday), when if; became stationary. At fifteen minutes pasji two o’clock the wash of the water as it rushed up against the piers of the Belmore bridge, went within two or three inches of the highest mark for <869 ; and making due allowance for the “ wash,” was fully thirtytwo feet six inches high—or, in other words, about six or eight inches higher than the great flood last month. The effect of all this can, in some respects, be better imagined than described. THE TOWN OF WEST MAITLAND. From the High street railway station up to the stores of the Messrs Capper, a distance of nearly half a mile, this main thorenghfare of the town was submerged, together with the whole of the branch streets running at r'ght angles to it, embracing Abbott street, Spark street, Wade’s lane, Devonshire street, Albert street, and Victoria street, a'l 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-witpesseq 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 tho top of which foot passengers walk, and the level of which is at least four feet above the roadway. From the embankment upwards High street presented a strange appearance. Many of the shops were shut, and, as a matter of course, bisiness was completely at a stand-still. There war the usual number of drays and vehicles of every descripfion conveying the poor flooded-out people to the School of Arts and other public buildings. Tho civic authorities appear to be on the alert, and at the various embankments throughout the town, men were stationed to consolidate and strengthen them wdierever tho slightest sign of a breach was apparent. The newly-orga-nised 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 High street at one o’clock on Monday, I have only to mention that boats were moored in front of the premises of the mayop (W. H. Smith, Esq,), at the Mercury office door, opposite the Volunteer Hotel (lately kept by Alderman Olitfe), and in front of the stores of Mr Coupland and the Messrs Capper.