A PHENOMENAL RAINSTORM

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81844, 11 September 1906, Page 3

A PHENOMENAL RAINSTORM

FLOODS AROUND MELBOURNE CREAT DAMACE IN THE COUNTRY. Melbourne, September 10. There was a phenomenal rainstorm in the city 'ast night, many low-lying streets being partially submerged. The Saltwater River, at Footscray, is flooded for a wide area. The police were busy a'i night rescuing people from the houses. At an early hour this morning the river was still rising. There have been heavy floods at Braybrook, Essendon, Eisternw ick, and Brighton. Destructive inundations are a' s " repotted from Bai'arat, Bendigo, Seymour, Kiimore, and many p.aces. In the country there has been great damage to property and crops. HICHEBT FOR FORTY YEARS. FLEMINCTON RACECOURSE DAMACED. CREAT LOSS IN BALEYARDS STOCK. FLOOD WATERS TEN FEET DEEP. Received uth, 12.24 a.m. Melbourne, September 10. The flood in the Saltwater River was the highest for forty years. It continued to rise in the early part of the day, but is now subsiding. 1 nere was no rain to-day, and reports from various flooded districts show that the waters are failing. There is •till, however, a lot of flood water to come down. This morning the districts round Fpotscray, Maribymong. Kensmg. ton and Brunswick were a vast expanse of water, some streets being saging torrents. Rescue boats were kept busy all night removing resi dents. Many houses were deeply submerged, while some were wrecked and swept away. The Hemington racecourse was covered to a drpth ot six feet, and it is feared extensively damaged. The training tracks sut fered considerably. The most disastrous effects were felt at the abattoirs and stockyards, wher* yesterday about twenty thou sand pounds' worth of sheep and cattle were yarded. At daylight to day a large portion of the yards, which are on the banks of the Sa twater River, was submerged to a depth Of ten feet.

FURTHER DETAILS. Received nth, 12.:4 a.m. Melbourne, September 10. The lowest estimate of ihc losses is ten thousand sheep and two hundred and fifty cattle. Other estimates ol the numbers of drowned are much higher. The .osses of pigs, sheep and other stock from farms along the river must aiso have beenve y large, judging from the number of carcases drifting down. Flood waters from the higher reaches of the Yarra art- now coming down, bringing vast quantities ot trees and remains of chips, intermix ed with drowned stock and occasionally household effects. Two hun dred and fifty sheep of a flock grazing oil Flemington course were drowned. At the glue works, bone mills, and factories on the banks of the Saltwater River were submerged, and in some cases swept away. So far no loss of life has b«cn reported, although there was a number ot narrow escapes. A woman who, on Saturday, gave birth to turns, had an exciting experience. Her home was flooded, and she was rescued in a boat which was swept away by the current. Constables, wading up to thfir necks, secured the boat and carried the woman and the infants for two mi'cs through the water to safety. A lady and gentleman cross jug Campapse River in a bugg> were swept away, but managed to reach a tree, where they remained till morning. Reports recived by the Railway Department state that several country lines arc badly affected by the floods.