FLOODS IN VICTORIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1857, 11 September 1906, Page 2

FLOODS IN VICTORIA.

PHENOMENAL RAINSTORM, PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT

Melbourne, Sept. 10. A phenomenal rainstorm ooourred in tho city last night. Many low-lying streots ore partly Bubmorged. The Saltwater river at Footsoray flooded an area, and tho polioe were busy all night reeouiDg people from their houses. At an early hour this morning the river was still rising. There are heavy floods at Braybrook, Esßendon, Elsternwiok, and Brighton. Destructive inundations are also re ported at Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour, Kilmore, and many places in tho oounlry, Great damage has been done to property and orops.

VAST EXPANSE OF WATER. HOUSES SWEPT AWAY. wmw HIGHEST FLOOD FOR FORTY YEARS.

PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT Received 12.4 a.m., Sept. 11. Melbourne, September 10,

The flood at Salt Water river was the highest for 40 years. It continued to rise in the early part of tho day, but iB now subsiding, There was no rain tc-day, and reports from various flooded districts show that the waters are falling. There is still,

however, a lot of flood water to come down.

This morning the districts round Footscray, Maribyrnong, Kensington, and Bruuswick were a vast expanse of water. In some Btreets there were raging torrents. Rescue boats were kept busy all night removing residente.

Many houses were deeply submerged. Seme were wrecked and swept away. The Flemington racecourse was covcr.d to a depth of six feet. It is feared that it has been extensively damaged. The training tracks suffered considerably. The most disastrous effeots were at the abattoirs and Btookyards. Yesterday about £20,000 worth of sheep and cattle were yarded, At daylight to day a large portion of the yards, whioh are on the banks of the Salt Water river, were submerged to a depth of 10 feet.

RESCUE OF MOTHER AND BABES, A THRILLING ADVENTURE.

PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received 12 24 a.m.. Sept. 11. Melbourne, Sept. 10,

The lowest estimate of the losses is ten thousand sheep and two hundred and fifty cattle. Other estimates number the drowned much higher. The losses of pigs, sheep, and other stock, from farms along the river must also have been very large, judging "from the number of carcases drifting down.

The flood waters from the higher reaches of the Yarra ace now comiag down, bringing vast quantities of trees and remains of crops, intermixed with drowned Block, and oeoasioually household effects.

Two hundred aud fifty sheep cf a flock grazing on Flemington racecourse were drowned,

All the glue works, bonemills, aud factories on the banks of Saltwater river were submerged, and in some oases swept away. So far do loss of life is reported.

There were a number of narrow escapes. A woman who on Saturday gave births to twins had an exciting experience. Her house was flooded. Bbe was resoued in a boat, which was swept away by the currents, Constables wading up to their necks secured and carried the woman and infants two milos through water safely. A lady and gentleman crossing Campaspe river in a boggy were swept away. They managed to re°oh a tree, where they remained until morning, when they were resoued.

Reports reoeived by the Railway Department state that several country lines are badly affeoted by the floods.