DISASTROUS FLOODS IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2193, 18 May 1870, Page 2

DISASTROUS FLOODS IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Last week we gave a short account of the floods in the Hunter district. At the timo that account was printed here, that and other districts in the colony of New South Wales were overtaken by a flood more disastrous in its effects than the first one. From our Sydney files we learn that not only have the low lauds around Maitland been again covered, but some localities previously untouched have this time come in for it The rain seems to have extended over a large part of the interior. At Goulburn the flood has been nearly as high as it has ever been known. At Yass the river rose above the, level of the bridge. At Bathurst the river was bank high. At Muswellbrook the water was five feet higher than the flood of 1857. The fs'amoi has been in heavy flood, and the township of Gunnedah had a good many houses inundated. At West Maitland the water rose thirty-four feet three inches above the water level, or thirteen inches above the great flood of 18G7. Of course the lowlying farms have been again inundated, and families that have just got back to their homes have had to turn out again. Injury to property is not the only thing to grieve over, as these floods have cost several lives. The soil is too sodden to admit of any farming operations being usefully carried on, and ' if the winter continues to be wet there may perhaps be a compulsory fallow till the spring. * We make the following extracts, which will convey some idea of the extent of the devastation : The flood from Yass River has swelled the Murrumbidgee to a devastating extent. Gundagai is submerged. The iron girders of the Yass bridge were found fifty yards from their original site. Two cylinders, which were sunk deep into the solid rock, were broken off. The Woolgarlo Works have been much injured; the manager’s house and buildings have been swept away. The town of Cowra is almost destroyed, and several lives have been lost. The destruction of stock has been enormous. The Kiverina settlers may expect heavy floods in their rivers. The accounts tvhich are being received in town of the damage done by the floods are of a painful nature. All the embankments at Maitland, except one, have ben destroyed. The court-house and police-office have fallen. The inhabitants of Gunnedah were compelled to take refuge on the hills, the town itself being rprifce submerged. Seven lives have been lost at Denman, where several houses were completely washed away. There is an immense sheet of water surrounding Maitland. The rain continued during the night, but the weather has now* cleared up. The fiawkesbury is subsiding. The Nepean is still high ; and the low lands about Goulburn and Yass are entirely submerged. The Northern Railway is impassable bpyorM Hpxijmn, ‘ ' There was a fearful flood at Wagga Wagga. The whole town, with the exception of sixteen houses, was submerged, and only the Australian Hotel was quite out of the water. Both the newspaper offices were flooded out. There were six feet of water in the Bank of New South Wales and two feet in the Joint Stock Bank. The water was up to the eavi s of the houses in North Wagga. There has been great destruction of property and stockbat as far as is at present known, no lives have been lost. The water has since fal en four feet. At Murrurundi the flood reached a high point on Sunday morning, at one (.’cjo(,k. Mr Newman, solicitor, abandoned his bouse on Saturday night. Dr Richards and family took refuge at Dr Gordon’s, whose house was far above the highest flood ever known. At two o'clock, Dr Gordon and seven young children were hunted out in their nightdresses with Dr Richards’s family; the wind howling, the water roaring, and the screaming of people, caused a fearful scene. Mr Newman has lost everything; some of big furniture was picked up a.way destj'oypd. Mr Britton, his oyife, and thirteen persons wore on‘flic roof of their house all night, the water within four feet of them. The bridges and culverts are swept awayj and, if tlie flood continues, the telegraph office and house and half the town must go. Wo are all in trouble ami misery. This is a fearful catastrophe, and a loss to this place. FURTHER DISASTERS. {Prom the Correspondent* of the Sydney Mommy Herald ) J WIXD.SOR —Eight houses are said to have been washed down in the Cornwallis district, and others are expected to go The tram crossed and recrossed MuWave this SShcl 1 : ercwU11 four feet higher than the big flood of 1860. The telegraph and post office, the steamers’ stoie, janfl se\ eral othor houses are swept

away. IFour of Mr Goulding’s family are drowned. The I.S.N. Company’s steamer Coolangabba is high and dry in front of Bradley’s Hotel. The flood is up to the counter of the Commercial Bank. Great misery and distress prevail. Acres of land are washed away. At Boolong the water is four feet higher than the flood of 1869.

Terkara. —The heaviest flood ever known here has fallen upon us, causing an immense destruction of property. The steamer’s store, the front of Mr Armstrong’s premises, and the telegraph ollices are washed away. Large numbers of cattle are lost. Immense distress will prevail, and, saddest of all, five lives are lost.

Forbes.— The highest flood ever known has occurred here. It is fo.ir feet higher than the great flood of 1864, and is causing great destruction of property. Croat fears are entertained for the safety of the settlers on the Lachlan River.