VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Issue 1155, 27 October 1869, Page 5

VICTORIA.

The Bendigo Advertiser is informed by a gentleman from Echuca that the Murray on the 18th inst. was 17ft. above the summer level, and was still rising. The Campaspe was running bank hi^h, and the Goulburn was higher than it had ever been known before, so that in every probability the places in the vicinity of the Murray Biver will be visited with floods similar to those of last year.

At the Circuit Court at Beec^ worth, on the 14th inst., Frank Neville, tried for the murder of John Nicholson on Monday last, at Tackandandah, was found " Guilty," but recommended to mercy. In the case of Wee Cow, arraigned for an attempt to murder, the jury were discharged, from their inability to agree. " Diptheria is now very prevalent," observes the Gipps Land Times, " and persons who are in danger of suffering from that complaint would do well to bear in mind that the fumes of sulphur destroy the germs or particles which generate the disease in the bronchial tubes. People living on the low lands near the swamp are specially liable to be attacked by this complaint, particulaily after a flood, as the power of the current disturbs and spreads abroad the effluvia generated by the decaying vegetable matter on the peat grounds." We take the following particulars ot [ the wreck of the clipper ship Victoria [ Tower from the Argus of the 18th inst : — This magnificent vessel was built expressly for the Australian trade by Messrs H. and J. Evans, of Brunswick Dock, Liverpool, for Messrs T. H. Ismay and Co. She was of 1,750 tons builders' measurement, and 1,550 register, and save that she had finer lines, she was in almost all respects a sister ship to the large iron clipper Hoghton Tower, at present in port. She was classed AAI at Lloyd's, with special mark, and her outfit and finish in every detail were of the highest and most elaborate character. In order further that the ship should be complete in men as well as material, the services of Captain John Kerr, who had for years successfully commanded the large clipper ship White Star, were secured for the Victoria Tower, and a long and prosperous career was anticipated tor her. The ship had stranded between midnight and 1 o'clock yesterday morning, about one mile and a half S. W. of Bream Creek, near Barwon Heads, and about half mile from where the ship Earl Charlemont was wrecked some years ago. She was reported as being broadside on, about 400 yards from the beach, which was sandy, and the sea was breaking over her. The foremast was gone, and it was believed that her back was broken from the mainmast having gone right through her. When the ship struck, the safety of the passengers and crew became a paramount consideration, and the sea, which had been high, having subsided, they were all landed in two of the ship's boats, about 3 o'clock in the morning. The disaster is alleged to be attributable to foggy weather, Captain Kerr having been unable to take an observation during the whole of Saturday, and to the fact that the ship's compasses, four in number, were out of order. The agents at this port for the ship, Messrs Lorimer, Marwood, and Borne, telegraphed instructions to Geelong that everything was to be done for the welfare of the passengers and CreW| who are all expected to arrive ia town to-day by train. Ifc may also be stated here, that the hon. the Commissioner of Customs, on hearing of the disaster, with commendable prompitude, gave orders for the Government s.s. Pharos to proceed immediately to the spot. This step, however, was rendered unnecessary, when it was known that the passengers and crew had been safely landed. On the occurrence being heard of in Geelong, a number of persons proceeded at once to the scene of the wreck, taking with "them provisions and other necessaries for" passengers and crew. The Victoria Tower sailed from Liverpool on July 23, with about 2,400 tons of cargo, consisting chiefly of iron pipes, bottled beer, hardware, salt, slates, &c The ' vessel herself cost some £25,000, and ' the value of her cargo is also something considerable.

It seems probable (says the Argus) that a bill providing for payment of members will pass, at least the Legislative Assembly, this session. What the Upper House will do with it is another question. Last night, by a majority of 27 to 20, the Assembly in Committee resolved that it was expedient to pay members of Parliament, and that a sum not exceeding £30,000 per annum should be appropriated for the purpose. A bill based upon the resolution will at once be introduced.

The heavy rains have caused the Tarrowee at Ballarat to overflow, and part of the maia road on the flat has been inundated to a greater depth than it ever waß within the memory of the oldest inhabitant. One man, two women, and a child have been drowned, and several narrow escapes are reported.

A great disaster has been spared, and the floods, we are happy to say, are in course of subsidence. Of course much harm has been done, but it is far less than that effected by the inundation of October, 1866, and inconsiderable in comparison with the wide-apread ruin caused by the rising of the waters in December, 1863. On the latter occasion the area covered by water was immense, and in some cases the Yarra, as it ran past the Melbourne wharves, made a clean sweep to the sea. Where the extent of covered surface is so extensive, the difference even of a foot is of vast consequence, and we find that the highest point attained on the present occasion was 6ft. 4in. below the highest level in 1863, and 3ft. 2in. below the highest level in 1866. The reason of the difference is obvious ; not oDly was the downpour of rain less in volume, but it was far steadier and more regular, although incessant. Moreover, the south-west wind, which blew hard during Saturday eight, fell ac the Sunday

advanced, and it was the fact of a S.W. gale preventing the subsidence of the waters in 1863, which heightened the flood on that occasion. Thus the story of damage done is not nearly so long as expected. The various suburban railways have not received 5s worth of injury ; the traffic along the partially submerged Sandridge and St Kilda roads has never been stopped, and but a small number of houses have been flooded out. At the Sandridge piers the fact of the floods was not observable, except from what was seen on the main land, and the diacolora- ' tion of the waters of the bay browned by the muddy stream of the Yarra. It was I remarkable that during previous great floods, when the wind was blowing hard up the bay, there was a distinct line where the sea-water and river water joined, but this could not be seen yesterday — a fact which serves to illustrate how quickly the storm waters are being carried off, aided as the outflow at the Heads is by an easterly wind. — Argus, 20th Oct.