AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

Marlborough Press, Volume XI, Issue 695, 11 May 1870, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

DESTRUC TIYE FLOODS IN THE HUNTER DISTRICT. LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES FLOODED OUT. THOUSANDS OF SHEEP AND CATTLE DROWNED. West Maitland, April 24. Another heavy flood is impending; the river has risen 26 feet, and is rising one foot per hour. April 25 —The river is 32 feet 3 inches at the Belmore Bridge, and is still rising. Numbers of drowned sheep, and horses are floating down the river. The river is 35 feet high at Belmore Bridge, and is still rising. The embankment at Duke’s waterworks is gone, and the water is rushing through the Northumberland Hotel; visitors have all left. High-street is deeply flooded, and almost impassable. An immense extent of country is inundated. Hundreds of families are flooded out, and the usual places of refuge are open for the relief of the distressed. A great number of sheep and pigs are coming down the river. It is reported that five lives have been lost at Aberdeen. Singleton is uuder water. Business is almost entirely suspended, many of the shops in East and West Maitland being shut Railway communication further than East Maitland is interrupted. April 26.—The river is now 33 feet 4 inches, and is falling a little. Several cottages have been swept away, near the Court-house, in front of the Northumberland Hotel, and at the Horseshoe Bend. The distress is feat ful. 8 p.m.: The river is now falling one inch per hour. The banks of the river in High-street are falling in. Youlale’s photographic gallery, and the large water-tank iu front, have gone into the river. No lives reported as lost. The Court-house is gradually going. 10.30 p.m. : The Cuurt-house is partially washed away; the remaining walls will probably follow The cottage adjoining it is gone, and a. powerful current pours past the Northumberland Hotel. Scmpiil-street is destroyed in many spots. Communication with Oakhampton Road is cut off. Evans’s house aud store in Horseshoe Bend are gone. The railway embankment near High-street is apparently washed away for a distance of 20 yards Gunnedah, April 26.

The river commenced rising on Sunday morning, and by 12 o’clock on Monday lin. 1 risen over 50 feet. Every house in the main street is inundated, and ] the inhabitants hed to take refuge on the i hills Nj lives were lost, and the flood is gradually subsiding. Two flecks of sheep were drowned near Breeza on Sunday last. Singleton, April 24 The river has risen to 43 feet, above the usmil level, and is still rising. The lower part, of the town is submerged There are 3 feet of water in Mr Leslie’s. The river is nmv 43 feet above the usual level. April 25.—The highest flood ever witnessed by a white man is now subsiding—it having just receded a foot. The people did not appear to become apprehensive until about dark on Sunday, when the water broke over in the highest parts of John-screet. During the night the excitement was very great; by daylight there were not more than seveu or eight houses out of water. No lives are as yet reported as lost, although two or three families are believed to be on the roofs of their houses. The destruction of property, especially in perishable stores, and provisions, is reported to be very extensive. Morpeth, April 24.

The greater part of Narrowgut is under water The greater part of Phoenix Park is under water. April 25 —Great distress prevails, and busii'.ess is suspended. April 26.—The river at 6 a m. was 15 feet 8 inches above high-water mark, and at 10 aui. 15 feet 10 inches; at noon it was stationary. River now within five inches of 1 Q 67 flood, and rising slowly. Murrurundi, April 25.

A fearful flood has occurred here, which reached a high point on Sunday morning at 1 o’c’ock. Mr Newman, solicitor, abandoned his house on Smftlsy night. Ur Richards and family took refuge at Dr Gordon’s, whose house was far above the highest flood ever known At 2 o’clock, Dr Gordon and seven young children were limited out in their nightdresses with Dr Richard's family; the wind howling, the water roaring, and the screaming of people, caused a fearful scene. Mr Newman has lost everything; some of his furniture was picked up miles away destroyed. Mr Britton, his wife, and 13 persons were on the roof of their house all night, the water within four feet of them. The bridges and culverts are swept away, and, if the flood continues, the telegraph office and house and half the town must go. We are all in trouble and misery. Scone, April 25. The highest flood known took place yesterday; five inches of rain fell on Saturday night. The water is one foot deeper than duriug the flood of 1857,

causing great destitution. There is one foot of water in the Court-house. The roads are much injured, and numbers of the culverts are impassable. Boyle’s Inn at ilolkham is flooded. This is caused by the railway embankment. 2,000 sheep were drowned at Aberdeen, with numbers of cattle. Goulburn, April 26. Highest flood for 20 years, excepting that of 1864. Still rising. Perfect sea running just below office, stretching a mile and a half. River risen 25 feet. Easterly gale and pouring rain. Muswellbrook, April 25. Water at Denman five feet higher than 1857 flood. Seven lives lost. Great many slab houses washed away. Some bodies recovered. Mr Gerson’s stock has been lost and destroyed by the flood. Rockhampton, April 22. Alderman L. Davis has been committed for trial on a charge of murdering his wife; he came home druuk and beat her with a thick sti-k. The medical evidence teuds to the conclusion that death was not caused by a particular blow, but through the shock to the nervous system. The prisoner made no concealment. When asked if he had any statement to make, he became agitated, could not speak, aud fell back in the dock; his wife was not a temperate woman. Davis held a respectable position, and this act of his has caused much surprise. Melbourne, April 23. Flour, £ll 5s to £ll 15s; maize, 4s Id to 4s 3d ; The Somersetshire is loading rapidly, aud sails on Wednesday. April 25. The Rev Mr. Taylor, the Baptist minister at Sandhurst, is being tried for fraud as executor. The gold returns show a yield of 300,000 ounces less than the yield of the previous year. April 26. Taylor has been convicted of fraud, and remanded for sentence; a point has been reserved. Sir James Palmer, President of the Board of Education, delivered his annual address; he thinks compulsory education impolitic. A 41-ounce nugget has been found at Gladstone Creek, Gippslaud. New gold discoveries have been made in the Avoca district, which have been officially reported by the Mining Surveyor. A large rush is probable, the sinking being shallow.

, A large fire took place at Ararat, destroying two hotels and seven stores. May 2. Thomas Webb Draper was acquitted on the charge of embezzling the funds of tho Commercial Bank The New Zealand cheese exhibited in Maecan’s shop, has been much admired. Wood aud "Cunningham’s, Christchurch, loaf cheese much commended. Bathurst, a notorious swiudler, convicted of obtaining money under false pretence, has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Ah Pew, convicted of the Glenluee murder, has been sentenced to death, Adelaide, April 25. Advices from Calcutta state that the Viceroy so highly approves of the flour sent by the Jane Bell, that he has ordered a supply for private use to be sent by the Simla. Dr. Scomburgh proposes to the Government to establish at Port Darwin an experimental nursery for tropical commercial plants. Gold has been found in ballast brought by the Koh-i-noor from the Northern territory Sales of wheat transpired at 5s 3£d. Sydney, May 1. The ship Walter Hood, from London, has been totally wrecked at Ulla Ulla, 130 miles south of Sydney. The commander and 13 others were drowned. .The brig Spray, schoouef Nation, and ketch Damietta, were also wrecked.