AUSTRALIAN FLOODS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 78, 3 April 1890, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN FLOODS.

HEAVY AND DANGEROUS RAINS.

DWELLINGS AND SHOPS

DESERTED,

By the arrival of the steamer Tekapo from Sydney, we are placed in possession of additional particulars with reference to the disastrous floods recently experienced in Queensland and New South Wales. The "Sydney Morning Herald " of the 28.1 i ult. says :— Though no rain worth mentioning has fallen in the metropolis in the past 36 hours, nor in the immediate vicinity of Sydney, yet our correspondent's telegrams show that in the northern part of the colony a sad state of affairs still exists, and constant heavy rain is more the rule than the exception. The drenching showers which have fallen at the heads of the Darling in New South Wales have to be added to the previous phenomenal downpours on the feeders to the Darling in Queensland. At Fernmount on the Bellinger it is estimated that this last rain has ruined fully £40,000 of property. What the outlook for Walgett and Bourke is may be inferred from a message which uses the word "doomed" in connection with the impending floods there. Painful news comes from Inverell to the effect that dwellings are, in numbers of instances, deserted, families abandoning their homes at the last moment, leaving all their household goods to the ravages of the floods, after hopingfromdayto day that the weather would clear. At West Maitland scores of people are flooded out, and similar' news comes from our correspondent at Tenterfield. All along the Manning and the Namoi rivers it is the same story of continuous rain. It has blown harder thai* that along the coast, however, particularly to the northward of Sydney, and a frightful sea is prevailing. One vessel ran back yesterday to this port for shelter, and last night three others returned to Newcastle. Every sailing vessel which arrived has reported very wild weather, and in several instances they were damaged before they reached port. One in particular had a narrow escape from foundering off Seal Rocks, and has sustained extensive damage. At Coraki a passenger steamer is sunk in the river, the passengers and cargo having been transferred to another steamer before the vessel went down. FLOODS IN QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, March 26. Warden Cusack.of Eavenswood, wired to the Under-Secretary for Mines as follows : —" We experienced during the past week fieavy and constant rains, which culminated yesterday evening in high cyclone winds. The floods are extremely heavy. Most of the mines here have suffered severely. I respectfully requested the Minister to grant one month's exemption on account of the floods at the Ravenswood and Mount Wyatfc goldfields. Creeks overflowed damaging bridges and destroying paddocks, Chinese gardens, etc. Three shops in a low-lying portion of Deighton - street were completely swept away. There is a deal of property lost all over the field, but no loss of life is reported. The railway is much damaged." The Minister of Mines approved of exemption being granted. Another telegram received ab Charters Towers from Warden Selheim stated that a blackfellow had crossed the river, bringing news that Mr Reddin, proprietor of the "CharteraTowersTimes,"hadboendrowned on the other sideoftheßurdekin. It is feared thab other persons will be declared missing bhe country comes within reach. The Hughendon train got in this morning. The passengers had to live on svveeb potatoes. The river is 100 ft. over the Macro3san ; s bridge, but is now falling rapidly. Houses, debris, and trees went down the river. Men just returned to Townsville from Ayr state that the township is surrounded by water. Seaforth and other plantations have been swept away. There is much destitution at Selheim. Several houses have disappeared from the other side of the river. A meeting ha 3 been called by the Mayor for this evening to raise relief funds. There is no communication with the other side of the river yet, but the mischief done to the Burdekin mil! is not greab. Mrs Hoare, who was rescued yesterday, is reported as being very ill from tho continued strain and exposure.

The railway lines are much injured by the floods. The Burdekin overflowed ab Ayr to-day, and flooded out all the selectors on the banks. Plantation Creek is a mile wide, reducing the township to an island. All the corn crops are destroyed. The damage to the plantation is yeb unknown, ib being cut off from all communication.