QUEENSLAND FLOODS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2973, 10 January 1917, Page 5

QUEENSLAND FLOODS

ROCEHAMPTON THREATENED. Brisbane, January's. The latest estimate of the damage by. the floods at Clermont is ' £800,000. Over 100 buildings were ruined. The water continues to iibo at Rock j hampton, and a flood is feared.—Press Assn. [Clermont is the centre of. the celebrated Peak/Downs, noted in Central Queensland in the early days for- its great pastoral, as well as mining/pursuits. It is a rich district, and,the fDpulation had been growing very fastossibly this was in a measure due to the fact that cotton growing had been commenced on a pretty extensive scaler The country between Capella and Gormont was Bplendidly adapted for cotton growing, and many selectors added this to their small farms as a means of livelihood. The mining portion of the country is in Clermont itself, and to the north, north-east/ and north-west of the town; and here copper, gold, and coal have been mined successfully' Black Ridge sprang into prominence through the discovery of gold, and for a time the field was a payable proposition. Of late years the held has gone down; but the Clermont centre had been slowly improving gold yields, particularly at the Mount Coolon > mine.The extensive developments anticipated, however, wore not realised, the reason given being, curiously enough, ill, the light of recent events, "continued ' dry weathor." Clermont itself was a we'll laid out town, and being the centre of pastoral and mining areas, was a receiving and forwarding depot. The town of Clermont has an area of 18 square miles, with a population of between 1500 and 2000. But the outside areas of the district, which are included in the Peak Downs and Belyando Shires, have a population, of 'about 4500.] TERRIBLE TRIALS OF A FAMILY, FIVE MEMBERS DROWNED. (Reo. January 9, 8.35 p.m.) Brisbane, January 9. The flood at Hughenden washed away, the house of a selector named Jenkinson, while nine members of the family, were clinging to the roof. It struck a tree and capsized. Two wns ana two daughters managed to cling to the tree and wore rescued after sixteen hours' esposure. Five others, JonkinSon senior, his wife, Jonkinson junior and his wifo and child, wore drowne^. A number of individual drownings continue to bo reported throughout tha flooded areas. Many of those marooned have beau rescued after sensational escapes and severe sufferings, some being almost demonted.—Press Assn.