GREAT FLOODS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2176, 15 February 1881, Page 4

GREAT FLOODS.

Tho United Kingdom has been visited Toy some very severe floods owing to heavy raina during tho past ten days. At Preston the Ribble, swollen by an inoosiant rainfall daring two days, poured over its banks, and submerged tho two Prestoil parks, besides vast tracts of agricultural land. At Walton, in ono field, thirteen sheep wore drowned, but as a rule tha live stook had been removed to plaoos of safety. Tho flood has not boon equalled for fourteen years. Tho disastrous offsets of tho heavy rains have been experienced in tho low-lying districts, especially between Ormskirk, Wigan, and Preston. The liver Douglas overflowed at Rufford and Oroston, and throe or four acres of land are under water to tho depth of a yard. The roadways were rendered impassable, and many houses were flooded. A groat storm of rain has also visited Bury, causing the Irwell to overflow between Bury and Olifton. Many hundreds of acres are under water. Therein has caused tho subsidence of the embankment on the up-lino of the East Lancashire Railway at Fernhill. Several goods trains were delayed, but tho lino was quickly cleared. At Whitchurch innumerable acres of land are under water, and farmers must be heavy sufferers. The roads in tho neighborhood are in a dreadful state, and in many parts almost impassable. Consequent upon tho heavy downpour of rain on the hills, tho Wye and several of its tributaries, including tho Lugg, have overflowed, and have placed hundreds of acres of arable and pasture land under water. Great damage will acoruo to ogriculturiats about Hereford, especially to those who have sown their early seeds, acres of which have been washed up. Graziers will also experience considerable loss, as tho sodden grass will encourage various diseases in cattle and sheep. There has also been a rioo in the waters of the tidal way, between Staines and Reading, and tho surface of the river is now much above its ordinary summer level. Westward of Windsor the stream has encroached upon the eastern extremity of the Olewor Rays, extending to the palisading of the enclosure near the grand stand of tho racoooune. Tho towing path on tho Bucks shore near tho Groat Western Railway bridge is flooded, cutting off the communication by the riverside : and the low-lying land at different places along the course of the Thames between Windsor, Baton, and Staines, has also been flooded. Tha Oalne has risen and is encroaching upon its banks, and a great quantity of water is out upon the site formerly used for tho West Drayton races, and on the northern side of the embankment of the Great Western Railway, where several small lakes have been formed stretching in the direction of Yiewsley. Tho Brent has swollen into a chain of pools extending from Hanwell northwards along the valley. Everywhere the rivulets and brooks tributary to the Thames are filled to overflowing, and unless fine weather at once sots in tho floods are likely to cause serious damage and inconvenience to agriculturists and owners of property along the banks of the river. At Aylesbury the other day the wind blew with terrible force, and tho watercourses overflowed their banks, the whole of the meadows being covered. The waters are rising, and there is every appoaranc) of tho flood being the worst experience 1 this year. Tho late heavy rains have flooded a large portion of the oountrv round Southport. At Orossens, a small villigo near Southport, tho country resembles one vest lake, and numbers of farmhouses are inundated, and a largo amount of grain and other produce has been damaged. The river frwell, between Manchester and Salford, hoe risen to an extraordinary height, and the Broughton district in Salford is now flooded in a serious planner. Whole streets of houses are several feet deep in water. Several works have stopped, and many persons have had to be rescued by means of 'carts and cabs. Todmorden and district have also been visited by heavy and disastrous floods. The Oalder has overflowed its banks, and at Shade a breach about thirty yards wide was made in the river wall, the torrent rushing along the road at a tremendous pace, and bursting into cotton mills, workshops and dwellings, which were quickly submerged to a depth of three or four feet. Great damage has been done to machinery, material, and household furniture. Fields and roads are submerged, and traffic has been stopped. A large reservoir attached to a printing mill at Whittle-le-Wocds, near Oborloy, has burst ita embankment, and the water rushing down a steep hill inundated the village, the cottages being flooded to a depth of two feet. Much damage was done in shops, but tho promptitude of the people saved a great deal of property. The water subsided in a few hours. Great floods at Craven, in Yorkshire, have done considerable damage to houses and other property. In the vicinity of Cross Hill, whero the River Aire flows, the roads and fields have been submerged to the extent of four or flvo feet, and one of the factories could not be entered fill noon. Much damage has been done to the roads and lean! railways, which have been flooded. Such a flood, it is said, has not occurred for twenty years. There have also boon immense floods in different parts of the midland districts, resulting from a heavy and continuous rainfall. Between Stafford and Bngby large tracts of land are completely submerged, the course of the rivers in some places being well-nigh hidden by the flood. In tho Whitaoro and Ooleshill district there wore also extensive inundations. The weather on tho east coast of Scotland has been very very severe, but lately it underwent a sudden change, and the large quantities of snow which fell last week have now almost disappeared. For some days rain has fallen almost continuously, and the streams are much swollen, while tho low-lying land in many ports is flooded.