VICTORIA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 730, 31 July 1852, Page 3

VICTORIA.

The Floods. — Since Saturday morning the weather has been fine, and the swollen creeks and rivers have fallen as rapidly as they rose. The Yarra has retired within his own proper limits, though not without leaving many traces | on each side its banks of the devastation caused by its sudden irruption into the surrounding country. The dam, which on Saturday was covered, is now not only visible agaiu, but has a fall of about three feet, while the waters have entirely left the wharves and building's .on the banks of the river. A good deal of the property floated away continues to be picked up, and numerous are the carcases of drowned cattle on both banks below the city. The stoppage of the road to the diggings by the destruction of Keilor Bridge still continues, and is likely to do so for some time, unless the water so far abates as to allow of the Creek being forded higher up. Accounts were received in town yesterday, of two horsemen being drowned in attempting to cross the Creek above the Bush Inn, but their names we have not been able to ascertain. Another very -melancholy accident has occurred to a settler on the river Ex, between Melbourne and Geelong. Mr. Wedge and his wife, we are informed, weie drowned alniost in their beds, so sudden was the rise of the river, and the incursion of the water in their homestead. The mail, which left Geelong on Thursday lust, had not since been heard of, ar.d the whereabouts of the escort is unknown. A party of mounted men were again sent out yesterday to seek for the escort and render assistance, but, as on the previous day, they could reach no further than Keilor, and returned without any information regarding it. We are credibly informed that along the whole line of road to the Diggings many drays have been deserted by their drivers, and the bullocks turned adrift ; of some of these and of others hopelessly bogged, the loading has been sold at a ruinous sacrifice for what it would fetch, and we are "told that a considerable quantity of flour changed hands at only £1 the bag, and other goods at a proportionately low rate. Notwithstanding the three days fine weatber we have had, £70 and £80 per ton is asked for loading to Forest Creek, and nothing less than £80 to Bendigo. — Melbourne Argus, May 25. It is stated that it is in contemplation to have a Roman Catholic church erected in Melbourne, for transmission to Mount' Alexander. The structure will be of wood, and so made as to be taken asunder after being finished forwarded to its destination in bullock teams, and there put up. — Geelong Advertiser. Sudden Death. — Between eleven and twelve o'clock, on Saturday, a returned digger from Momft Alexander, named James Walker, entered the Bank of New South Wales, and being what is termed one of the lucky men, presented for payment a cheque for £1,500. The cheque was entered, and, as he approached the teller's counter he stumbled, fell down on the boards, -and expired in a few minutes. In the afternoon, a coroner's inquest was held on the remains, when it was elicited in evidence, that, though deceased was an' inveterate drunkard, he was perfectly sober and steady at the time.