THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7517, 5 April 1890, Page 5

THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

•"". ■ ,■■'■» — if BXIBAOBDINARY GALES ANiO '< RAIN, L»»OM OVa COBJRBSrONDKM'r.J *' [BT IksIOBAPR FISOM ' SYDNEY, March S& i Extraordinary heavy rains-have eoa Hnued throughout both Now South Walrt a nd Queensland, and in many places.,the floods have done extensive damage* la Sydney Itself last Monday-six- inches «] rain fell. The season in both colonies Is the wettest for years. Townsvitle.' and the neighborhood In the north of Queensland have been visited by a severe gale and tremendous rainfall, Tho hurricane, which commenced at eight o'clock on Sunday night, continued 1 for twelve hours. Ie rained all nSght on Monday', and the wind Increased to a terrific gauj, accompanied by heavy rain. Twenty inches fell in sixty hours. Business Whs suspended. The barometer was f ailing all day, and at 5 p.m. was £0.5. Darkness approached under tho most terrifying circumstances. Tho wind : wru stronger than ever and the rain heavier, people anticipated a terrible catastrophe. At eight o'clock, however, the began to rise, the wind suddenly fell, bill the rain increased. All day it was aosafe to walk about the streets, as iron -tveja flying iv ail directions. The view- seaWartl was terrific, most of the line of breakwater being invisible, and when visible'ft fwas seen that the sea was breakitis over the main jetty, the spray being Sof» high. It is anticipated that the jetty •will be wrecked. The people prepared fbr'ttte bight most gloomily. One hundred and ten people took refuge on Itom Island. The schools and hotels were crowded, : At Boss Island the flood reached the highest toiut known, viz., a foot higher than uringthe floods of 1884, so a number Of houses at Hermit Park and Boss island have 6ft of water in them. Ou Monday the steam dredging plant at Boss creek broke away, and was brought' up against Philips' wharf, but early -yesterday morning it again broke away tskfnla the lighter Telephone, containing 103 bales of wool and the Klcctric Light with h.br. The Telephone sank opposite the OrOWH Hotel. The Electric Light is now riding on the top of her all right. A Contractor named Joseph Vidulicb was upset in a boat, and swept ouc to sea. H< was taken two miles out, but flnaU* swam ashore, after being two hours it the water. He has lost the steam Isomer Eleanor and the ketch Snowdrop,-and.hie workshop was blown down, vMullfcb estimates his loss at ££>00. Tho Custafmo launch broke away from her moorings and sank. About £10,000 Worth of damage baa been done in the town and suburbs. About fifteen small houses were "wrecked by the windi thirty blown off fchCir blocks, and three or four washed away,' wfme about forty verandahs were demolishes. The eastern breakwater . stood*- the''test) magnificently, only a few feet of if,-on which was a small lighthouse, bcih<3f carried away. The western brenkwateri , 'hd'vr being constructed, lost fifty feet. All -the shipping under the Ice of the Jetty arid Magnetic Island rode out the gal© splendidly, though the sea was mountains high. The Aramnc took twenty hours to steam nineteen miles to get nndjsr Magnetic Island. Captain Lake says that itwas the most terrific gale he ever*experienced. Only two lives were lost—vis., Townsend, who was washed off a butcher's cart hear WQlinittewell. Aitkenville * and Mrs Hybell, who was killed by her'kitchen being blown down on her. .A teleSam received at Charters Towers' Mfci c Warden at Silhcim states 'that a blackfellow'" had ■ crossed ■'•rab'"rivfer bringing news that Mf'MSeddin, the proprietor of the Charters- Tdicfrs Times, has been drowned on the other side of the Burdekin and that hid body had been recovered.': It is feared that; tithxr persons will be found t6 be mlsainft when the country co«ie3 within reach. Tho Hugenden train got in this morning./ Tho passengers had to live on sweet potatoes. The river was :100ft over tho M&ctossan bridge and is now falling rapidly. ' It sis [stated that Mr Beddln tried to cross by | swimming and became exhausted, '"-•■'