SYDNEY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 504, 2 September 1857, Page 5

SYDNEY.

A SECOND DISASTEOUS FLOOP IN THE HtTNTEB' [From the ' Empire.'] Maitland,Wednesday Evening, July 29,1857. —Scarcely have we recovei'ed from the effects of the first flood already fully reported, when a second has visited us, threatening still more disastrous consequences. We had calculated the losses sustained, and were able to some extent to realise our true position j but this new and greater flood has upset all our speculations and we are now threatened with more serious loss at a time when we are the least able to bear it. TJp to Sunday evening last we had in this district enjoyed most favorable weather. Many of the settlers who had suffered by the last flood had been able to re-sow their fields, and the flooded lucerne paddocks had in many instances assumed a green and healthy appearance; in fact, all seemed glad at the comparatively small loss the district had sustained. On that evening the rain began to fall steadily, and continued during the whole of Monday. On passing down j the streets on Monday evening, the common re* mark was—" Well, we are going to have another flood in Maitland?" And the rejoinder usually heard was-—" It is not all likely with such weather as we have at present." All Monday night and Tuesday the rain continued to fall and often in torrents with heavy gusts of wind. Still no fears were entertained, and in the afternoon the flood committee held what was thought to be one of their closing meetings in the School of Arts. They were bent on winding up their affairs and one of the members jocularly remarked to your correspondent when speaking of the weather outside, that he thought they would have to declare themselves a permanent committee. This to some extent has

unfortunately become too true, and that very gentleman who has earnestly laboured for the relief of the destitute was on that evening a second time flooded out of his house and narrowly escaped loping his life, he having, from over exertion, been seized with a fainting fit and. lay for fully two hours without any one to notice his condition, his family having all rej moved from the house. Up to Tuesday afternoon the river showed no further signs of rising than what was usual after a heavy fall of rain, and in the morning a drain was opened in the Horse Shoe Bend to carry off the water accumulating from the falling showers. This drain, however, was closed up as things began to assume a threatening appearance, for as night set in the river ' began to rise at a very alarming rate. In fact parties standing on the high banks on Tuesday afternoon could not possibly have believed that by eleven o'clock at night they would have witnessed a sea of water spread far and^wide, and covering as in the first flood the larger portion of the Horse 'Shoe Bend. By that time, too, the water was flowing like a torrent by Hall's Creek into all the back lands and very soon the whole district assumed the appearance it had at the previous calamity. Early this (Wednesday) morning the river broke over the High-street below the Eose Inn, and carts began to ply as vehicles of conveyance between the one part of the street and the other; boats were now, as formerly, in constant requisition, and drays loaded with furniture were every where to be seen. The School of Arts, The Bowling Saloon, the empty house lately occupied by Mr. Attkins, the Court House, and the Hospital were instantly thrown open for the relief of the sufferers and every posssible assistance afforded. One thing is very noticeable, even by the most utter stranger,and that was the general activity of the inhabitants. There was none of that dull, lazy loitering, and looking on which was sometimes seen at the last flood. All were active and each seemed to feel that, he had something to do. Practice evidently had produced something like perfection, and help was always at hand. Amid all the distress witnessed —and it was- even greater than at the first flood as there was an almost constant rain the whole of the day—it was cheering \to witness the hearty offers of shelter and relief proffered on ■ all hands and the kindly help given to everyone needing assistance. About twelve o'clock to day the river rose to within a few inches of the highest level it had obtained during the last flood, and broke over the High-street at a second place a little above the Wesleyan Chapel, the waters continuing to pour into the back land. At Morpeth the whole of the Queen's Wharf was. flooded and the water rose up to the step of Mr.'Murphy's inn. In fact to state all the places that have been flooded would just be repeating the history of the previous flood. The only difference is that on this occasion there were no embankments to break through; auu the water had it all its own way. The people, too, were better prepared, and escaped at the very first warning; and what one remarked might be stated as perfectly true of all, they bad become quite expert at the removal of furniture. But notwithstanding all this outward pleasantry and good humour manifested by the sufferers, it cannot be hidden from the most superficial observer that a frightful loss has been sustained and the very exclamation which your correspondent heard more than once, "Cheer up! We'll get over this yet," showed that sufferings were being endured. which perhaps never would reach the public eye. A casual looker-on may think that the losses are trifling because the sufferers treat their disasters so jestingly, but the shivering children and the wife with a smile on her face and a tear in her eye tell a different tale. During the whole of Thursday the river continued gradually to rise till it was eighteen inches above the highest level of the last flood: the back water also continued to" rise till the whole of the land previously flooded was again completely covered. In the lower part of the high-street of West Maitland a great many persons have been flooded out who were not reached by the last flood, and at the East Maitland it has spread farther than before. Last night the mailman arrived and stated that he had gone no further than the Black Creek, which was in flood, and had risen fully ten feet since Wednesday morning. The water in Anvil Creek and other creeks was being backed up by the flood in the Hunter. Such being the case there is very little hope that the river will soon fall at Maitland. No lives have been reported as lost, although some rumours were flying about last night which happily were contradicted. EFFECTS OF THE STORM IN SYDNEY. The rain which set in on Monday morning continued to fall throughout the day, night, and yesterday up to 5 o'clock in the evening, when there was a lull both in the wind and rain. The storm has been a very violent one, and considerable damage has been done to buildings in various parts of the city. It raged highest about midnight of Monday when it blew a fierce gale, and persons who happened to be out found it difficult to make headway. The heavy rain has thoroughly washed some of the streets where the traffic is small; but the chief thoroughfares are in a bad and muddy condition, and will require the immediate attention of the Corporation. The old complaint of leaky houses and roofs, is just as prevalent now as it was when the last great storm raged ; and we can scarcely expect dry tenements when continuous showers of rain are driven with great force against them. During the gale on Monday night, line school-house belonging to St. Michael's Church, Surry Hills, and which was nearly completed, was totally destroyed by the force of the wind. The loss

will fall upon th» contractor, Mr. Mayne, who, ■ it is said, might have saved the huilding, if he had closed up its apertures. It stood in a very exposed situation in a paddock nearly opposite Chester-terrace, Crown-strefit. Crown-street itself thanks to the Corporation is passable now, notwithstanding the heavy rain ; but it is to be hoped the street will be thoroughly made soon, or it will ere long become what it was before— a quagmire. The gardens, fences, and trees, in the neighbourhood of Surry Hills have received great damage. Some newly-built houses have been completely flooded in the same locality. In the Domain some injury has been caused by the strong North-easter. Ten large trees, red gum, and honeysuckle, have been torn up |by the roots ; they stood formerly on each side lof the walk leading to the Botanical Gardens. ; The last heavy gale we experienced here destroyed ten also, and thus, in a few months, twenty of the finest trees in the Domain have been levelled by the rough rude breath of Boreas, i The churches have in some instances suffered damage ; on Monday the western gable of the new Scotch Church, in Phillip-street, was blown away, and by its fall a portion of the walls was shaken. The same night the western gable of DarUnghurst Church, which had just been finisht ed, fell down through the force of the wind. | During the whole of Monday and yesterday | Sydney was visited by one of tne severest east- ; erly gales remembered for some time past, and j accompanied with heavy and incessant rains. i Casualties along the coast were naturally anti- ■ cipated, but at present the disasters which have j come under our notice have been confined to 1 wrecks and damages in port. The barque Fame j has become a total wreck; the Indus is disj masted at the Heads; the Glen Isla drifted from j her anchorage, and narrowly escaped getting on I shore at Dawe's Point; the schooner Venus, and I the brig Gold Digger, were in imminent danger. — Empire, July 29.