TASMANIAN FLOODS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1929, Page 6

TASMANIAN FLOODS

TER BIBLE SCENES. (Australian Press Association). (United Service). HOBART, April 8. A graphic story of the Hood on the N#rth-Eii.st Coast of Tasmania, and of the Into of the Scliampander Bridge, is told by a Melbourne visitor who has just arrived at Hobart, after a precarious journey. hie Jjtays that huge quantities oi debris were collected by the waters .’above the bridge, causing an enormous pressure, under which the piles were simply drawn bodily from the river bed on the upper side. One minute later there was nothing visible but a boiling mass «f water, which carried the debris, the bridge, and all to the sen. Trees, boulders and landslips blocked the roads at intervals. The destruction of an old stone bridge, which had becai built by the convicts in the old days across the Eek River, at Perth, broke the telephone and telegraph communications with Hobart and Launceston during the week-end. The connection was restored by tin* use of a rocket apparatus, by which a rope was shot ovoi the river, and it was used ti> effect' temporary telegraph repairs, thus enabling a huge accumulation of telegrams to be sent on. j ( . The Macquarie River' at Boss,Subsided sufficiently to enable a.liew motors to dash across the old stone bridge, hut it was a risky enterprise. The fall of the water also released 'a number of people who had been imprisoned in the upper floors of their houses whence they had witnessed unforgettable scenes. Dead stock and farm debris became piled against the fences and formed a gruesome breakwater. Platypluscs. which had been washed down iroin their customary haunts, swam across the road, while scared rabbits were perched on logs and stumps in midstream. The previous record flood level at Avoca, which was in the year 1852. has now been exceeded by over ton feet. THRILLING TALES. HOBART, April 8. Thrilling stonie's are told of the rescue work during the flood disaster at Derby ami other places. The Briseis Hu mines workings have been almost filled in. A cut one thousand feet wide and one hundred and fifty feet deep was swamped in half an hour bv the ruslitorrent from the burst Cascade dam. There is hardly one bridge in norWiem Tasmania intact. The railway stations are submerged. A quarter of a million sterling will be needed to restore the roads and railways. The families along the South Esk River were awakened from their sleep by the rush of the flood waters towards midnight oil Thursday and they had to fly for then- lives in their night attire. Many of them only escaped by swimming. The homeless people are being aeewmmodated in garages, theatres, and baldness premises; whi'ch have been turned into temporary boardinghouses.; The devastation in the ftivereak district is pitiful. Many of the families there have been ruined. FEDEBA L GOV ER.NMEN T AID. 1 SYDNEY, April 8. Mr St Bruce, Federal Premier, stated to-day that the Federal Government has not yet received any appeal from Tasmania, but as soon ns its bleeds are known, all steps \sill he taken to provide assistance. THE STORM ENDS. MELBOURNE. April 8. The bad weather in Bass Straits has abated, and the rain over North Tasmania has ceased. ; The steamer Nanaina, which has been unable to berth at Launceston owing to the. floods sailed at the normal time to-day.