CYCLONIC STORMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1918, Page 7

CYCLONIC STORMS.

QUEENSLAND FLOODS. RECORD RAINFALL AT SEVERAL TOWNS. FATE OF MACKAY UNKNOWN, Very meagre details of the great cyclone and floods in North Queensland last week have been cabled to Neiv Zealand by the Press Association, and it is necessary to have recourse to the Sydney flies to obtain a reasonably clear idea of the extent of the disaster. The latest available Sydney Morning Herald contained the following report from Brisbane, dated January 23rd:— Definite news concerning ttta fate of Mackay is anxiously awaited. It is now certain the town received the full force of the cyclone which struck the Queensland coast. Captain Hood, district lighthousekeeper, advised the Acting Deputy Post-master-General that a uadio message had been received from an unknown source stating that the light, at Flat-top is extinguished and the building has been demolished. 'Emergency notices have been issued to mariners. Communication between Mackay and Flat-top is interrupted, and an endeavor is being made to get further information. The following telegram also has heen received by the >Superintendent of Navigation from the Director of Lighthouses*, Melbourne:— "Iniform all concerned Flat-top light extinguished by hurricane. Emergency notices issued in Queensland." Practically all trains have ceased running owing to the flood waters being over the lines or .owing to washaways. The southern mail train was cancelled, and the mail train from Brisbane turned back at Mount Larcom. Advices from Mount Morgan state there has been a good deal of damage there. The Dec river is in high flood, and the suburbs are isolated. Owing to the. state of the weather hundreds of men are out of work, and more will have to knock off, as under present weather conditions it is impossible to carry on. Advices received from Wowan state there is. a great expanse of wnter hetwpen there and Deeford, and fears are entertained for settlers. SEAS' MOUNTAINS HIGH. The full fnry of the gale was felt at Yeppoon, where the wind blew with cyclonic force, and the sea ran mountains high. A gres.t deal of damage was clone, one hotel being unroofed in the early hours of yesterday morning, and the roof piled up in the station yards. At Emu 'Park conditions are also very bad. The Wyreema arrived in Keppel Bay on Sunday, but was unable to reach Port Alma. She is sheltering under Sea Hill. The Moira left'here on Saturday, but put hack under Sea Hill. Other vessels are sheltering under Sea Hill. Owing to the rise of the flood waters residents at iPort Curtis Junction were endangered. A train was EPnt there and brought in TOO persons, who have been accommodated in different buildings. A train was now and again sent to bring in more residents. The Fitzroy during Monday night and early yesterday morning rose with great rapidity, and at 3 p.m. it was 27 feet on the gauge, or only 14 inches foelov? the 1906 record. At 8 o'clock it was 27in Sin on the gauge. The river at Yaamba yesterday afternoon had risen to 43ft lbin. Concurrent with this rise there has been a very large area of country submerged, and viewed from the highest >buildin<rs in the city the scene iR impressive, though melancholy. It seems inevitable there will be a most disastrous flood. DAMAGE AT ROCKHAMPTON. That Rockhampton was in the path of the disturbance is abundantly demonstrated. Trees were uprooted in all directions, and buildings began to suffer on Monday morning. The principal damage was in the outskirts of the town. In North Rockhampton many houses hAd their verandahs blown away or portions of the roofing detached, with the result that the deluge of rain, which poured in, caused considerable damage. There were many narrow escapes. In Denison lane a brick chimney crashed through a house, and Mr 3. King was struck by the debris, suffering bruises and shock, while her son Charlie, aged about eight years, was struck on the head by a beam. Miss Scully, who was standing near Mrs. King, had her Mouse torn to shreds, but did not receive a scratch. A house ■m high blocks, near the north coast lino crossing, occupied 'by Mrs. W. J. Bryan, collapsed, and Mrs. Bryan and her two children just managed to get out in time. A number of awnings on shops in different parts of the city were blown away, and No 1 grandstand at the show grounds was unroofed. At North Rockhampton, business places in the Yaamba road suffered greatly, and a number of private houses were unroofed and otherwise damaged. Similar conditions prevailed from North Rockhampton to Lakes Creek, and it is certain the damage will run into a big sum. The Rockhampton Jockey Club's course is completely submerged. People were shifting all day, and also last night, at Rockhampton. Women and children, in pouring rain, were seen staggering under loads of household belongings. From Sunday afternoon to 9 o'clock on Monday morning the rainfall was 4.sCin at Rockhampton, for the next 24 hours 965 points, and from 9 o'clock yesterday morning to 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon 230 points, or a total of 1655 points. Further rain fell, bringing the total at 8 p.m. to 18 iricKes. At 12.25 to-day the Deputy Railway Commissioner at Rockhampton reported that conditions were very bad in the west, especially near Pine Hill, and on the Clermont line. Both Theresa Creek and Retro Creek were 3ft over the line and rising. There was a very big flood in Langton flats. It is raining heavily at Clermont, and water is running through the town. Only two trains are running in the western district. At. 11 o'clock the Deputy Commissioner reported, "Very serious floods at Rockhampton. The gauge this morning was flin higher than any previous record, and still rising. Rain continues, and there seems every likelihood of the flood rising higher. Hundreds of houses are flooded. Rockhampton is completely isolated from the south and west, and we cannot get a train even to Port Curtis Junction, which is only a mile and a half from the town. The water is about 15in over the line near Lakes Creek." RESCUE WORK. Inspector Hulrue left yesterday to rescue people at Warren, and is now endeavoring to get to Gogan's, where the settlers are said to bo in serious danger, the settlerß in the Dawson Valley are also being moved. The Daw-

son River r.t Hoolbumi is very high, and families will have to be removed, from there if possible. The Home Secretary's Department has instrueted the police ut lloekhamptoii and Longreacb to (five every possible assistance and relief where necessary to the sufferers from the Hoods and cyclone. A Roekhamp ; ton message to the Commissioner of Police to-day stated that the. gasworks would be closed, and all lights would be out at night. A special weather report this morning slated the centre of the tropical disturbance continued on a westerly course during the last 24 hours, and, as far as can be judged, the centre at !) o'clock to-day was about inidw_nv between Boulia and Longreaeh. It has decreased still further in intensity. Among the more important rainfalls for,the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day were:—Mount Morgan 533 points, Rockhampton 753, Bajool 501, and Springsure o?8.

Several inter-Slate vessels have been delayed by the storm, and one or two aro still reported to be sheltering from the gale. Telegraphic communication with the northern parts of the State show very little improvement. Mackay and 'St. Lawrence are still isolated, and it is feared Bowen will becomo isolated during the evening.

At Clermont very heavy wind blew on Monday, and uprooted thousands of trees on all the country roads. It shook up the buildings in town somewhat, but very slight damage was done. A balcony roof was blown off the Terminus Hotel, and a few sheets of iron off a private house. The total rainfall till fl o'clock' this interning was 570 points. Sandy Creek lias been running almost level with the hank since yesterday afternoon, and flowed over below the town, -but the old town is not yet flooded. It was reported this morning that the railway bridge between Clermont and Blair Athol was bent out of position.

No rain has fallen at Bundaherg today, hut the weather is threatening and wharfs have been cleared in case of emergency, reports having been received from Eidsvold that the Burnett River there was at the highest level known for ten years. At Gayndah the river was 26ft above normal, and rising at the rate of 6in per- hour, and at Gin Gin the river was 10ft above normal. The Kolan River is -.SOft above normal.