TASMANIA.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 30, 15 January 1864, Page 6 (Supplement)

TASMANIA.

GItEAT FLOODS AND LOSS dF LIFE. {Abridged from the Kobart Town MercHrj/.) On the evening of Saturday, the 12th December, the rain commenced fo fall in heavy showers. On Sunday it rained incessantly, the wind bio wins; strongly from the southward. The Derwent soon began to rise rapidly, and by noon on Monday, the 14th inst., it had so far overflowed iis usual boundaries as to completely >hut up all the ordinary channels by which Hobart Town and the surrounding country is drained. In liathuvst street most of the gardens extending back to the Park street creek have been floode-l to a greater or less extent, an 1 a large quantity of vegetables were washed away from various gardens in this locality The fences also were generally more or less damaged. A portion of ihe Hat hurst street bridge has been completely blown up, and a chasm several feet \%kle has been made on the western side of it. At the corner of Liverpool street, most of the buildings were flooded out, and from Liverpool street to the corner of Sackville street the whole line of houses iacing the Domain has sustained damage. The Park street creek in this locality passes immediately in front of the foundations of the houses which are of subsinntial stone work, and a wall at a few feet distance confines the creek to narrow limits, the whole being boarded over, and neat little plots of garden formed above all. The rush of water proved too great for the dimensions ot the sewer thus formed, and in several places the gardens were blown up, and the cottages regularly inundated, the fences being in several cases destroyed. In the neighborhood known as Wapping, embracing lower Collins street, Sackville s'reet and a few of the small streets contiguous, the Jlood was severe, arid the whole of those streets were placed under water to a depth of about two feet, the buildings chiefly cons sting of cottages occupied by laboring people being completely flooded out. Women and children almost naked were driven from their cottages, and compelled to seek shelter among thrir acquaintances, while their household goods floated hither and thither and were only saved at ihe expense of a thorough wetting. The New Market was barricidel with three-inch planks, and puddled up with mul and yellow cliy to keep out th« water which hud overflowed Collins street to a depth of above five inches on the Crown. On the wharves business has been completely at a stand-st'iil. The heavy swell which accompanied the wind and rain threatened several times to do havoc amongst \h<* shipping, but with the precaution of running out additional anchors and warps, not one si'gle vessel — excepting the Jane brig, lying at the Kangaroo Point ste-im jetty, received any dumage, and this would not have occurred had not her bow warp carried away and allowed her stern to bump on the end of the whaif by **hu;h she had two or three of her stern planks slove. When the tide was at its highest, the jetty known as Pendei's was partly s«ept away, and damaged to ilut extent of some L7B or LBS). Several stores at the Old Whaif were also ilotxJi-d. and a portion of the New Wharf damaged, owing to the choking of the drains. The d. image to the city his, however, boen inconsiderable as compared to thai which has taken place in the country districts. The whole loss would probably be compensated fur about LSOO. The '.leva tat on caused by the floods in the districts has far smpasred the damage done in the city. From all quarters account* are reaching us cbiily of the loss of stock and sheep swept away by the wateis, or dead from exposure to the fury of the elements so soon after shearing. Acres upon acres of hay crops have been utterly destroyed, and tons upon tons of (Ills produce, which bad already been .stacked, has been blown down and scattered by the waters all over the country. Koads, bridges, and culverts have been burst up, destroyed, and carried away ; telegraphic communication between several districts has been stopped, and the houses of many of the. settlers have been flooded, the residents barely escaping with their lives. Postal communication for the past week has been almost entirely stopped, and is \m,v only carried on by the opening up of old ronclsand bye-paths, while the main lines undergo repair. The most melancholy circumstance in connection with the recent floods, however, has been the loss of the energetic overseer nf Public Works for the north division, Mr M'Oacken. It appears that Mr M'C-rackcn bad gone to superintend the endeavors being made to tffeet a crossing at the breach which occurred above Ross Bridge. All other means of compassing this object failing, a boat was sent for from Cleveland, and reached Moss between nine and ten o'clock on Tuesday night The boat was immediately Jaunoe-i into the boiling torrent at a distance of about 150 yards south of the bridsfe, and Mr M'Cracken, despite the remonstrances ot bis friends, determined upon trying ihe passage himself; with this idea he entered the bo)t which was then cast off, and was immediately swept down to yards thr bridge by the force of the current, which the unfortunate gentleman was totally unable to contend with. The water at this tim« was within one or two feet of the top < !' the archway of the bridge, and with fearful rapidity the boat was carried towards this point. It passed under the arch, and it fs supposed to have cap-i/.ed immediately afterwards, for it was discovered about 2D;> yards from the bridge, bottom up. There can be little doubt the unfortunate gentleman was killed almost instantly by coming into collision with the bridge. " [iis body has not yet been discovered.

From the (Launceston Examiner). During the last few weeks the weather bad been warm and dry, but late on Saturday night, the 12th instant, it became very boisterous, and the rain descended in ton-cuts, and continued to fall, with few intermissions, during the whole of Saturday and Monday, Though the rain came down so suddenly and copiously scarcely any one in Launceston appeared to entertain any fears of a flood, until early on Tuesday morning it was observed that the Novell and South Esks were much swollen. The waters of the North Esk rushed past the wharf with the swiftness of a nail race, and as a very strong southerly wind Was blowing, all the vessels in harbor put out additional w.irps. During the night the waters rose higher and higher, and by three o'clock on Wednesday morning they had overflown the whole length of the Queen's Wharf, as well as a portion of the Market Wharf and Lower Charles Street; and the residents on the Esplanade and the premises in its vicinity were routed from their slumbers by the unpleasant sensation of

water rushing in (o Iheir dwellings. Some of the^e persons waded throujih tho wutet ami sought refuge in drier plucw, othets retivated to upper roQins and attics. The top room of one small, two-storied building was literally crammed with men, women, and children, many of them only half-drossed. The . whole of the Swamp soon presented the?appearanco of a huge sea or lake. Tamar-streer, near Tauiar Bridge, was flooded, the water being up to the doorstep of the Dorset Hotel, and the George Town '*R bad was covered in several places. Mr Fawns' brewery yard was also submerged. Charles-street, from fust below Mr Lilly's, Salmon and.Bftll Inn, was one sheet of water. Scott's brewery, wharf, and the ground at the side and in the reur of Messrs DuCroz and Co.'s stores, was al.-o flooded. As the tide rose in the afternoon serious apprehensions beji'in to be entertained for New Town, it being feared that the embankments migh give way orbe overflown. Indeed, in the morning the water was making its way through one portion of the embankment, but Mr Fawns happened to observe it, and had the breach repaired. A small gang of prisoners were employed dining the day on the embankment, but they could do little good, The Government was also communicated with by telegraph, anil a reply was sent, statins; that the Town Surveyor might have all the prisoners in jail at his command, and mi^ht also employ as many free laborers as he required ; but the permissiou came too late to be of any service. The water continued to rise higher and higher, and between four and five o'clock it was on a level with the lop of the embankments. In a few moments an immense body of water was pouring over the embankments, and in a short time New Town was flooded. By the direction of the Mayor, who had been on the ground most of Hie afternoon, four boats were procured for the purpose of rescuing the occupants of the houses which were inundated. They were speedily manned, and despatcli D d on their mission. The boats were pulled up and down the streets, stopping at every house, and when full returned and deposited their living freight once move on terra firma. Several instances occurred in which persons at first refused to leave, preferring to take refuse in the upper stories of their dwellings. Tin's, however, could not be allowed, and they were all compelled to get into their boats. All were safely landed on the northern side of the bridge b> seven o'clock; and it was owing in a great measure fo the prompt and energetic measures adopted by the Mayor, assisted by a few othergentlemen, that the inhabitants were lescued so speedily, and without a single casualty. Som« of tlie unfortunate people presented a very pitiable; appearance — most of them came away with only the clothes they Stood in. On Thursday the rain had ceased, the barometer was vising, and the Hoods coirmetioed to subside. On Sunday, the inun dation at New Town had cornel, tely subsided, and on Monday the inh.iliit ints commenced to return to their homes ; but some days must yi;t elapse before many of the houses will be habitable.