AUSTRALIAN FLOODS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 458, 29 March 1890, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN FLOODS.

MARVELLOUS RISE OF THE RIVERS.

Fuller particulars are to hand by the mail steamer Mariposa regarding the disastrous floods which occurred about the 10th of March in Australia. The Hunter River rose 35 feet above the usual level at Maitland, and the main street of the city was converted into a sea for over a mile. The surrounding country was also inundated. At the East Maitland Road the embankments gave way and all the farms at Lochend and South Park were flooded. The losses of farmers will be very heavy in consequence of the floods. At Raymond Terrace all the shores were flooded and business was entirely suspended. The farmers of Millers, Forrest and Nelson lost heavily, and at Singleton deposits of dark foul smelling mud were left in many houses. At Grafton the Clarence River rose 20 feet on Friday and all the low lands were under water. The town was converted into a great sea, and boats plied about the streets, while the passengers embarked from the balconies. At McLean and Palmer’s Island the water was exceptionally high in consequence of a heavy sea at the Heads backing up the water. Many people will be unable to occupy their homes for some time, whilst others have lost everything. The various boat crews rendered great assistance, and had it not been for the flood boats and the police boats, fatalities must have resulted. At McLean the river was 40 miles wide, and the damage done has been estimated at half-a-million. Half the township was submerged, and the water was seven feet high in the principal street. At Copmanhurst the river rose 58 feet 6 inches. Landslips have occurred in many places. The Richmond River rose 32 feet 2 inches and flooded nearly the whole of the town. At Lismore 150 people, who were driven out of their homes by water, took refuge in the Court - house. At Irvington the rise was reported as 50 feet. A publican named Reid, who lived on Tabuluan Road, was drowned whilst attempting to cross a flooded creek. A tremendous landslip occurred on the Ballina Road and blocked the traffic. The Hawkesbury River flooded the country round Windsor doing serious damage to the maize crop. At Narrabri Mrs Coro and her three children were drowned.

FLOODS IN QUEENSLAND.