THE WEATHER IN AUSTRALIA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2026, 29 March 1890, Page 1

THE WEATHER IN AUSTRALIA.

Btdney, March 26. Since the beginning of the year there has been thirty-eight inches of rain, the heaviest fail on record. Brisbane, March 27, Reports continue to come in showing the extent of the floods. At Charters Towers the Burdekin river was seventytwo feet high, and ten miles wide, the town being under water. A very large number of stock was drowned, and the desolation of counlry districts is simply appalling. Many miraculous escapes from death by drowning are recounted. In one instance, a man, his wife, and six children were rescued by a passing boat, after clinging to a tree for fortyeight hours. A number of houses were swept clear, off (heir foundations by the rush of water, Several fatalities are reported from the districts affected by the floods. At Townsville twenty inches of rain fell in sixty hours, The water was higher than ever known, and boats were engaged all night rescuing those living in submerged portions. A furious hurricane drove the residents to schools and hotels. The damage is estimated at £IO,OOO. Fifteen houses were wrecked during the storm, and thirty wore blown clean off their foundations, Two fatal accidents have been recorded.