FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2036, 22 April 1890, Page 4

FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Sydney, April 18. A great burst in the embankments, at Bourke took place at 4.30 yesterday afternoon, but it was not till 11 o'clock that the works finally gay way. After it was found the bank could not be repaired there was a scene of the wildest excitement, men on horseback galoping to and fro informing their friends. Men, women, | and children could be seen rushing; about the streets in the wildest confusion. This, however, only lasted a short time, for everybody set to work to save property and to do what they could to get the women and children and bedding away by steamer to, North Bourke. Brave fellows, despite; the fact that they were liable to be; swept away, made gallant efforts to block the water, and as a last resort men actually stood shoulder toshoulder with their backs to the water right along the gap while others i shovelled up earth as quickly as they could. This .was no use, and largej tarpaulins were then stretched across« the break and sand bags piled upagainst them, but tbe force of the ; water carried them away like so many; paper. Ten minutes after the first alarmhad beeu given two hundred peoplei were on the ground, but it was seen 1 that all efforts would be useless, and the busy, thriving town, after all the hard work and loss of time and money, was about to be submerged. This is the greatest flood ever known by white men in Australia. A mile to; the north of where the water broke through the embankment is carrying eleven feet of water, and if this had! : gone the whole town must have been literally swept away. As it is the; greatest anxiety is now felt, for even if it gives now great destruction must ensue. All private embankments in the town are being built higher, and made as secure as possible, but it is feared that before the flood goes down many brick buildings will collapse. The current round corners and in between the houses will be a terrible source of danger. The water is,up to an ordinary man's waist all over the town. Bourke now stands in the midst of a great inland sea, forty miles wide. Judging from the mass of water passing Brewarrina, higher up the river, Bourke may expect another two or three feet.

Latest reports say that early this morning the private embankments began to fall. April 20. At Bourke the water is still very high, and many of the buildings are collapsing. [Bourke is a municipality situated en the left bank of the Darling River, 503 miles from Sydney, with which it is connected by railway and telegraph. It has five banks, two newspapers, four churches, four schools, a gaol and hospital. Being the centre of an evtensive and wealthy district, Bourke was becoming a place of importance. When the river is navigable steamers ply from A delaide, and from Bourke as far up the river as Walgett. Tbe district is mainly occupied by sheep and cattle stations, the former largely predominating. The municipal valuation is upwards of £400,000. The population in 1888 was about 2000 ]