PHENOMENAL RAINS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 171, 23 August 1909, Page 2

PHENOMENAL RAINS

UNPRECEDENTED FLOODS IX W SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. ■£ SEVERAL LIVES LOST. WJ SOME EXCITING~EXPEraE i NCE8 r 1 By Cable.—Prew Association.— Cop.. rigtlt f| Melbourne, August 21. I The llooda are the wont and moat tt- 1 tensive since 1870. The rainfall #*» J phenomenal. ' The pawengers by the Clunes train had sensational experience*. One car lay tipped endways, resting upon piled up trucks below. Another was partially suspended over the broken bridge, with water all round and no room (or the passengers to escape except along tho footboards. Holes were chopped from compartmnt to compartment to enable those in the tilted carriages to ■ get out Numerous railway waahaway* are reported. Several other railway bridge* have been destroyed or badly damaged. Railway and vehicular traffic is disorganised. The express from Adelaide is held up at Murtoa, and the express from Melbourne at Stawell, owing to washouts. Two more fatalities are reported, a man named Phillips at Leatmouth and a man namde Rees at Carugbaia being drowned xhile attempting to cross flooded creeks,'.

The Lodden River swept away the levees at the Laaneoorie weir and bridge. The township of Laaneoorie is transformed into an island. The Laaneoorie weir cost £BB,OOO. (The river at Newbridge is eight miles wide. A blacksmith's shop and a bakery were swept away. The rise was to rapid that several resident* were caught and had to be rescued. The lost of property and live stock is very heavy. "* Borne families took refuge on a stage with three feet of water round them. Miss Hunter, post mistress, refused to leave the spot. She camped on the counter with four feet of water around her and lapping over the edges. In the morning she waded out. All along the valley of the Lodden large areas are submerged, and the people have been driven from their homes. At Eddington and Brldgewater bridges have been swept away. A big rise took place in the Oampaspe River. All the shops in the town at Rochester are flooded. A reservoir at Blackwood hurst, and . bridges were washed away at Devon*ford. The reservoir which supplies Maryborough burst. A huge mattmry embankment, holding a. depth of 32 feet of water, collapsed and smashed the ' mains. The reservoir cost £66,000,

Serious damage is reported from Avoc*, where drowned stock and furniture »# floating down the river. At Ararat a man took refuge in » tree all night. A couple in a buggy were surrounded by water. Alt were rescued. The low-lying lands round Oeclong are submerged. Several bridges hava been swept away and tlhe railway embankment destroyed. At Charleton a family named Powell took refuge on the roof, surrounded by a wide, deep expanse of water. No bolt was available to rescue them. At Ballarnt the water invaded the houses in three of the principal street*. It was still raining last night On the outskirts of the town toe resit • donth escaped by wading waist deep. Similar reports come from various centres of the district. , Kilmorc and Seymour, towns along the Gonlburn river, report high, flood and derious damage by the storm. A mining dredge at Castlemaine, after being carried down some distance, succeeded in anchoring. The four .inmates escaped. The low land? along Salt Water River ore under water. Houses are flooded and the residents have removed their be. longings. Adelaide, August 21. Heavy general rain has fallen. The low-lying lands round Adelaide, Including Morphettville Racecourse, are mb> merged. Floods arc reported in many parti) of the country. Hobart, August 20. Heavy general rains are reported. WATERS RECEDING. TWO i\R)RE FATALITIES REPORTED. Received 23, 1 a.m. Melbourne, Aupst 22. Telegraphic interruptions are delaymjj news from the flooded areas. Tihe latest reports state that till worst is over, aid the water* are rec*d> ing. Two more drowning fatalities in reported.