NEW SOUTH WALES.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 732, 7 August 1852, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES.

[From the Sydney 'Morning Herald, July 5.] Gundagi. — DfeEADPUL , FIood — 64 Lives Lost. — June 28. — 1 beg leave to forward you a brief account of a dreadful flood we have just been visited with, at Gundagai. Though* the river had been rising for some days previous, it was not till late on the night of Thursday, the 24th, that any apprehensions were entertained of having a high'J-floojk Several families on the lowest part of the town on the north bank of the river, moved during Thursday to a_ place of safety. Tiiat part of the town that is on the north bank, has suffered most'; it' extends principally over a flat, separated from the high ground by a creek which rises very quickly, and long befoie there are any apprehensions, can only be crossed by boats or .by swimming. Late on Thursday evening, the flat was covered, and preparations were made to withstand a' flood. On Friday morning, about 9 o'clock, the water attained the height to which, it fose last year. A boat came from the other side of the river about 9 a.m., to, relieve Mr. Thatcher, whose family had taken to the loft. In recrossing the river the" boat was swamped, and five children and one of the boatmen were drowned. From the fearful current, and the enormous logs that it was carrying down, it was impossible to attempt to take off any more that day. As night drew in the unavailing cries for assistance all around became fearfully harassing. Crash after crash, announced the fall of some house, and the screams that followed the engulphing of the .unfortunate victims : the water attained its greatest height about 11 o'clock at night, and began to fall at 3 a.m. on Saturday. Up to this time, about 34 houses had been washed away, and 60 lives lost, - Numbers, who were

carried away by the stream, saved themselves by clinging to trees. I myself was on a tree from 1 1 on Friday night, until about 8 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Many were so placed for, two nights ; some of these were saved, though several perished from exhaustion. Those on the high ground exerted themselves to the utmost. Two strangers manned a boat, and took- several from the trees, myself amongst the number. The blackfellow " Jackey," belonging to Mr. Andrews, afforded in this respect the most valuable assistance, saving a great many lives. The scenes on the high part, where the remains of the inhabitants are congregated, is truly distressing. At every step you see some one lamenting the dead. Here and there the sorrowing remains, of what three days before was a large and thriving family. Mr. Thatcher saved himself, but lost eight of his family. Mr. Lindley returned to-day from a journey to Yass, and found the whole of his family swept away. There are few that lived on the flat that have not to lament the loss of some relations ; nearly all are penniless. The distress that existed has been relieved, as much aspossible.Tjythesympathyjandjkindnessofthose whose houses and property are uninjured. The generous hospitality of Mr. Norton, Chief Con-, stable, will ever be remembered by those to whom his house became a home, when they were without shelter, and many almost penniless. Messrs. Caddington, Bourkej Boland, and others, with whqse names I am unacquainted, excited feelings of the most lively gratitude, by their sympathy and kind exertions to relieve all who came on shore. Mr. Morley distributed provisions and blankets, and exerted himself to the utmost in getting those saved who were placed in danger.. The following is a list of those who were drowned, amounting to 64. The number of houses swept away is about 36. Nr. and Mrs. 'M'Kenna, of the National School, and five children. Mr. Hunt, saddler, formerly of. Paramatta, wife, and four children. Mrs. Lindley, of the " Rose Inn," and fforu r children, old man, servant man, and woman little girl, woman, aud child. • , Mr. Luff, of the Murrumbidgee, staying at the "Rose .Inn." Mrs. Thatcher, sen., Miss Thatcher, Mrs. Thatcher, jun., and five children. Mr. Gormly, Mrs. Gormly, daughter, two sons and two girls (.lodgers.) Mr. Scott, butcher, wife, son, and boy, (Castleton). - Mr. Gerard Hemphill, innkeeper, wife, and four children. IVIr, Egerton, tailor, and wife. Mr. Morris and two children. Four strangers, staying at Spencer's Inn, from the " Lachlan ;" Williams, servant to Mr. Spencer. Dr. Waugh's servant. -P~S. — Since writing the foregoing it is reported that the Mulwarra has risen considerably. ■ 9 p.m. — The Yass mail arrived a little ago with the most melancholy tidings of 77 lives being lost at Gundagai. The whole town was swept away but three houses. _ This is the news from this side of the jiver (Murrumbidgee) ; what has occurred on the other side could not be known. It is supposed to be equally appalling.