LATER NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 29, 15 July 1867, Page 171

LATER NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA.

GREAT FLOODS,

IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OE PROPERTY, (from the Sydney Horning Herald, 22nd June.) The weather yesterday was as violent as o-n the previous day, and, up to the hour of our going to press this morning, showed uo abatement.

’The Government Astronomer reports that on the 19th instant the wind rose rapidly at 7 p.m. in directions varying from SLJB. to E.N.E., and continued to increase ,until 9*30 a.m, on the 20th (Thursday), when the greatest velocity was registered

—namely, 82 mileß per hour, equivalent to over 331 bon the square foot. The total amount of rainfall, from the commencement' of the stoi’in to 9 a.m. yesterday, was 7.5 inches. The number of miles traversed by the wind, as registered by Robinson’s anemometer, in twentyfour hours—namely, from 9-30 a m. on the 20th, to 9 30 a.m. on the 21st—was 855 miles

The river, at Penrith, wus within three feet of the floor of the railway bridge at 430 p.m. yesterday. The whole country about Emu Plains is under water, and many of the houses on this side, of the river are submerged. An immense quantity of drift-wood, hay, and stock is floating down the stream. The picture is truly melancholy, the tops of the houses in many instances being taken possession of by fowls, cats, &o. There has, fortunately, been no loss of life.

Early yesterday morning the Premier (Mr Martin) and the Minister for Works (Mr Byrnes), accompanied by Mr Whitton, the Engineer-in-chief for Railways, left Sydney for Blaoktown and Penrith to see the extent of the floods, and to make provision for the saving of life and property endangered. We have been favored by the Colonial Secretary with a copy of the following telegrams—one from Mr Byrnes and two from the Station-Masters at Penrith and Windsor:—

Windsor, 9TO a.m. Mr W. Walker to the Colonial Secretary. Send some boats to Windsor iinmediately. Great danger of Joss of life, and few boats. Send by rail and thence by water. Flood nearly as high as 1861, and rising.

Tile following answer was despatched at 10 o’clock:—

Six boats crews wifi despatched instantly by Special train to Windsor. Have some one iu waiting.

Blaektown, 2-5 p.m. The Minister of Works to the Colonial Secretary.

1 have sent on four boats to Windsor. Got to River.-tone in time with boats to save a family off the roof of a house. Mr Martin and I are just starting from Blacktown to Penrith.

Windsor, 4r30 p.m

Raining heavily. Flood still rising. Water three feet higher than great floou in June, 1864. The boats have arrived. Penrith, 4 6 p.m. From Station-master to Colonial Secretary.

Raining heavily. Very high flood. Go* vernment boats rescuing people. Have not heard of any casualty.

Lite Endangered by the Ft,ood.—ln the account we gave yesterday of the wea« ther it w»s noticed that a house at Mar rickville was under water, up to the windows. This small building is inhabited by Mrs Blundell (a widow) and her two children. Every flood rises above the foundation of the dwelling, and the amount of risk incurred depends entirely upon circumstances beyond human control. Yet the place is not abandoned, nor is there any boat kept on the premises. A few mouths ago the master of the house died. At that time there was a flood wiiieh nearly reached the corpse, and for some time prevented the undertaker from performing his duties. On the present occasion the people of the neighborhood feit considerable concern lest the woman should still be in the house. No tidings could be gathered of her or her children. L’he attention of the police was directed to the matter. A young man swam off to the house, and found that the woman had taken there her helpless children. They we e on a door placed across the rafters, and had with them one loaf of bread. The police stationed in the district promptly procured a boat from Cook’s River, and removed the inmates to the house of a neighbor.