TERRIBLE FLOODS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9575, 23 August 1909, Page 5

TERRIBLE FLOODS.

DEVASTATION IN VICTORIA. CLTJNES RAILWAY ACCIDENT. SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCES. United PreM Association -By Electric Tolegraph Copyright- / MELBOURNE, August 21. The floods are the worst and most extensive that have occurred since 1870. The rainfall was phenomenal. The passengers un the Clunes train had sensational experiences. One car lay tipped endwise, resting upon the piled up trucks below; -the other was partially suspended over the broken bridge. Water was all round, and there was'no room to escape, excepting along the footboards. A hole was chopped from compartment to compartment to enable those in the tilted carriages to get out. i Numerous washaways are reported, and several railway and other bridges are destroyed or badly damaged. Railway and vehicular traffic is disorganised. The express from Adelaide was held up at Murtoa, and the express from Melbourne at Stawell, owing to washouts. Two more fatalities are reported, a man named Phillips, at Learmouth, and a man named Rees, at Carugham, were drowned in attempting to cross flooded creeks.

The Loddon River swept away the levees at Laanecoorie weir and bridge, ninety miles north west of Melbourne. The township of Laancoorie Is transformed into an island. The liver at Newbridge, thirty miles further north, is eight miles wide.

A blacksmith's shop and a bauery were swept away. The rise of the water was so rapid that several residents were caught and had to be rescued. The loss of proparty and live stock is very heavy. Some families took refuge on a stage with three feet of water round them. Miss Hunter,, the postmistress, refused tc leave her post; and camped on the counter, with four feet of water lapping the edges. In the morning she waded out. All along the valley ot the Lodden large areas are submerged, and people have been drivan from their homes. At Eddington and Bridge-water two small towns on the banks of the Lodden, the bridges over the river have been swept away.

There has been a big rise in the Campaspe River. All the shops in the town of Rochester are flooded. The reservoir at Blackwood, iiftysix miles north-west of Melbourne, burst, and the bridges .were swept away. The Evansford reservoir, which supplies the town of Maryborough, burst, A huge masonry embankment, holding a depth of thirty-two feet of water, collapsed, and smashed the mains. The reservoir cost £55,000. Serious damage is reported at Avoca, where drowned stock and furnitusre are floating down the river. At Ararat a man took refuge in a tree, where he remained all night, and two persons were isolated in a buggy surrounded by water. All were rescued.

The lowing lands round Gee long are submerged, and several bridges have beien swept away, A railway embankment was destroyed at Charlton. A family named Powflll took refuge on the roof of ] their house, which was surrounded by a wide and deep expanse of water. Not a boat was available for their rescue. At Ballarat the water invaded the houses in the three principal streets. It is Btili raining. Last night on the outsirtb of the town the residents escaped by wading waist deep. Similar reports come from various centres of the district. Kilmore and Seymour, towps along the Goulburn River, report high flood and serious damage from the storm. Laanecoorie Weir, which has been destroyed, cost £85,000.

OTHER STATES AFFECTED.

ADELAIDE, August 21. Heavy rain has fallen in South Australia, and the lowlying lands round Adelaide, including the Morphetville racecourse, are submerged. Floods are reported in many parts of the country. HOBART, August 21. Heavy general rains have fallen throughout the State.

THE WORST OVER

TWO MORE DROWNING ACCI- | DENTS. Received August 23, 1 a.m. MELBOURNE, August 22. Telegraphic interruptions are delaying news from the flooded areas. The latest reports state the worst is over, and that the water is receding'. Two more drowning accidents are reported. '