Million to Make Good Flood Devastation

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 633, 9 April 1929, Page 9

Million to Make Good Flood Devastation

STRICKEN TASMANIA GRAPHIC RESCUE STORIES (United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Heed. 10.4 a.m. HOBART.. To-day. Further graphic details of the bursting of the Cascade Dam near Derby, on the north-east coast of Tasmania, are given by Mr. Charles Lucas, of Derby. He is afraid that the township of Derby has been, wiped out. There is no chance of re-opening the mines there, and about 500 people are deprived of a livelihood. The losses in stock and the damage to property are greater than was at first feared. He indicated that more than £1,000,000 will be incurred in making good the flood devastation. Essential services are now almost back to normal, but 4,000 people are homeless. Thrilling stories are told of the rescue work during the flood disaster at Derby and other places. The Briseis Tin Mines workings have been almost filled in. A cut I,oooft. wide and 150 ft. deep was swamped in half an hour by a rushing torrent from the burst Cascade dam. There is hardly a bridge intact in Northern Tasmania. Railway stations are submerged. A sum of £250,000 will be needed to restore the roads and railways BRIDGE LIFTED BODILY A graphic story of the flood on the north-east coast and the fate of Schampander Bridge was told to-day by a Melbourne visitor who has arrived at Hob&rt after a precarious journey. He says huge quantities of debris collected above the bridge and caused enormous pressure. Under this the piles were simply drawn bodily from the river-bed on the upper side. A minute later nothing was visible but a boiling mass of water which carried the debris, bridge and all, to the sea. Trees, boulders and landslips blocked the roads at intervals. The destruction of the old stone bridge, which was built by .convicts across the Esk at Perth, broke the telephone and telegraph communication with Hobart and Launceston at the week-end. The connection was restored by the use of rocket apparatus by which a rope was shot over and used to effect temporary telegraph repairs. This enabled a huge accumulation of telegrams to be sent on. The Macquarie River at Ross has now subsided sufficiently to enable a few motor-cars to be driven at a high speed across the old stone bridge, but it is a risky enterprise. FLOOD WATER FALLS The fall of the water in the river also has released a number of people who had been imprisoned on the upper floors of their houses, whence they witnessed unforgettable scenes. Dead stock and farm debris were piled against fences and formed a gruesome breakwater. Platypuses were washed down stream from their customary haunts and swam across roads. Scared rabbits were seen perched on logs and stumps in mid-stream. The previous record flood level at Avoca in 1852 has now been exceeded by more than 10ft. Families along the South Esk River were awakened from their sleep by the rush of the flood waters toward midnight on Thursday. They had to flee for their lives in their night attire. Many people only escaped by swimming. The homeless people are being accommodated in garages, theatres and business premises, which have been turned into temporary boardinghouses. The devastation in the Inveresk district is pitiful. Many families have been ruined. HELP FROM AUSTRALIA MR. BRUCE’S PROMISE (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) SYDNEY, Monday. Mr. Bruce says the Federal Government lias not yet received the appeal for aid from Tasmania, but as soon as the needs are known all steps will be taken to provide assistance. A telegram from Melbourne says the weather in Bass Straits has abated and the rain over Northern Tasmania has ceased.