THE AUSTRALIAN FLOODS.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7526, 16 April 1890, Page 5

THE AUSTRALIAN FLOODS.

A MENACED TOWN.

[PER PHES3 ASSOCIATION.] Received April 15th, 12.50 p.m. Sydney, April 15. In consequence of the embankments which have been thrown up around Bourse, the towu resembles a fortified place. Electric lighting plant has been set up on the earthworks to labor night and day. Bodies of nayviea are being hastily despatched to the assistance of the residents. An immense body of water is reported to be coming down the Fulgoa, a few miles above Bourke, washing away all homesteads on its banks. It is feared when the flood reaches the town it will be doomed. The water surrounds Bourke for twenty miles in every direction.

Bourke is situated on the southern bank of the Darling River, 503 N. W. of Sydney, and is in the county of Cowper. It has a district Courthouse, post, money order, Government savings' bank, telegraph office and railway station. It has several hotels, four Bank agencies, Church England, Presbyterian, Wesleyan and Koman Catholic Churches, four schools— two public, one private, and one Roman Catholic; Courthouse, post office, police barracks, gaol and hospital. Being the centre of an extensive and wealthy pastoral district, Bonrke was becoming a place of importance. When the river is navigable, steamers ply from Adelaide and from Bourke as far up the river as Walgett. The district is mainly occupied by sheep and cattle stations, the former largely predominating. The plains are well grassed in all ordinary seasons, and there are considerable tracts of salt bush. The "Bourke district embraces the eastern portion of the pastoral district of Albert, the western aud southern portions of Warrego, and the northern portion of Wellington. The want of rain is often felt severely. Within the last fewyears the district has been discovered to be rich in metals. Copper ore of a remarkably rich character, and in great abundance, proves the value of the district. Total area of holdings, 454,099. In the Bourke municipal distiict the value of property is. £K)1,142. * Population of district, about 4120 (census 1881).