AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 857, 13 July 1867, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

(Prom the " Sydney Herald.") Maitland, June 22. River now about two inches higher than in 1857. Rose rapidly through night; continued rising a little ; very strong current ; Government embankment gone ; river over the bank: at the Falls, embankment in Horse Shoe Bend gone ; all communications between East and West stopped'; a-jb Elginstreet station back water about three feet over platform, and rising; nothing but water to be seen ; houses, fences, stacks, all covered ; railway line near Singleton washed away ; telegraph line, where it crosses the river at Singleton, caught by log this morning and broken ; and water five feet high in Cullen's Hotel, at 9 a.m. Telegraphic reports, at 7 a.m. this morning, from Murrurundi, Casillis, Merriwn, stated it had rained 1 all night. . Raining also at Tarn worth, this morning early; at Wollombi yesterday morning water was higher than in 1857. Telegraph communication from Newcastle and Morpeth ; telegraph station master washed out of office at Singleton ; no accidents reported. June 23. River rose four inches during night ; rising at same rate ; now six inches higher than in 1857 ; Meare's house on Oakbampton road terrace, small house, Horse Shoe Bend, opposite M'Dougall's falls, washed away ; houses end Free Church-street, and many others in imminent danger. Backwater still rising, and now as high as in 1857 j Queen's Arms opposite government embankment, doors washed open, furniture washed out; smithy next door, washed away. Wo rain since 8 o'clock last night : lovely morning ; boats out all night rescuing families ; everyone rendering all assistance possible. Hospital, School of Arts, St. Mary's School, Bourke's brewery, Arndell's stables, Wolstenholmes, and Nicholson's mills, and many other places thrown open ; six inches will take it on the floor of D. Cohen and Co.'s new stores. Backwater half way up goods shed ; railway, Campbell's bill, and of Long bridge, water level with top rail. Melbourne, June 20. . The second charge of forgery against Mr. M'Cann was postponed till the next sessions. The Payment of Members Bill was read the first time. A new Customs Act was introduced and passed last night. There is no business doing; 62 halftierces of Queen South twist were sold privately in trade parcels of 1 and 3 aromatic half-pounds, Is. lO^d. The new Cape raisins, per Midas, were sold at 6^d. in bond.; 50 cases of Keiller's confectionery was sold at 10^d. ; 2400 bags of damaged sugar, per Flatworth, were, sold at satisfactory prices, indicative of an improvement in the market.

At Sinythesdale, Searle find Ballanwere committed to take their trial for tbe murder of Mr. Burke. The evidence* adduced by the police is conclusive. The cmifessams of both prisoners were read, and are identical with those previously given. Searle is prostrated by nervousness and terror, while, Ballttu showed reckless bravado. Mary Manton was murdered by her husband George Manton, at Buninyong, with an axe : and he then dragged tbe body on the fire. An examination will be held on Tuesday. • Adelaide, June 21. The news from the Eastern Plains speaks of immense quantities of rain? Judge Boothby has asked his colleagues to release him' as much as possible from Court, to allow .him to prepare for the serious proceedings against him before the Executive Council. At the trial of the breech-loading rifles the preference -. was given to Aldina and Brewdler, as being the simplest and safest. ...'•" . June 22. Mr. Justice Boothby has been summoned to appear before the Executive on Monday, and protests against its jurisdiction. He also takes this course to uphold the prerogative of the Queen. Corn market very firm ; to-day holders ask more money. A few sales were effected at 4s. 9d, Flour unaltered. a . Penrith, June 23. The river, has fallen about- fourteen feet; .most of the back water has gone down. All I the police-boats excepting two have gone to the Windsor side. It is rumoured here that Eather's family,. twelve in number, have been drowned ,• we have not heard of any lives lost here, but a great deal of property destroyed. The hospital, court-house, and several private houses, are filled with distressed people. Beautiful day, and every appearance of fine weather. Bathurst, June 23. Heavy rains fell here almost continually from Monday last, and yesterday morning the Macquarie at daybreak was running nearly bank high, and that with such velocity as- to indicate great pressure from waters accumulated ,in the back country. As hours passed by the water crept higher, and fears were entertained for the safety of Denison Bridge (of wood), which spans tbe Macquarie on the main line of road at Kelso, and against which logs, stumps, and trees were beginning rapidly to accumulate ; the water now was too high to allow the debris to pass under, and it became evident that the destruction of the bridge was a mere question of time, for the water was running down in an increasing volume, adding fresh materials to the battery brought to bear upon it with such a weight and momentum which such a frail structure could not long withstand. Notwithstanding the danger, about fifty persons remained on the bridge, some watching the rush of the waters, others examining minutely for any. appearance -of its giving way under the tremendous strain, when at about 11 o'clock a loud crashing jarring sound was heard, accompanied by a shriek from those on the bridge, who at the same instant made a confused rush for the shore at either end, and they were. in time, but barely, when, with a quivering, rocking motion, the centre of the bridge, towards the Bathurst side, bulged down stream, snapped asunder, and, changing round with a grand sweep, detached itself, a similar occurrence having taken place from the Kelso side, and floated away with the tide. The three arches wide coming in contact with a cluster of trees standing in the bed df the river, it swepfc down like reeds, and, reaching the vicinity of the town, was swept into shallower water, where it stranded on a sandbank near George-street, and lies now a complete wreck. The bridge, eleven years ago, cost the country £13,000. The water burst over the banks of the river, and the plains in its vicinity were rapidly inundated. In the lowest level of the town, houses were flooded and had to be abandoned by their inhabitants, but hitherto there appears to have been no loss of life. Individuals known to have been on the bridge are massing, but it is believed they rushed in the moment of danger to the Kelso | side of the river, and, are, therefore, in safety. From Rockleigh and all parts of the district accounts have been received of floods, and the damage d,one to fencing is said to be very great.