FLOOD ON THE HUNTER RIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 253, 3 September 1864, Page 6

FLOOD ON THE HUNTER RIVER.

(From the Afaitland Jifercurt/, Aug. 23.) Xinonee, Manning Biveh.—Our correspondent savs: In my last I told you it was raining, and looked as if wo were about to have a change. I little thonght at that time what a gloomy account I should have to give you in so Bhort a time as tho following, viz. : It rained constant all Saturday night and all Sunday. Sunday night, and Monday. On Tuesday the river began to rise very rapidly, still raining; Tuesday night still raining ; and on Wednesday morning tho river had risen twenty feet, and still raining. Our punt broke away, and went three miles down tho river and there it now lies high on the land. This day much of the surrounding lands were under water: farms that a few hours ago wore looking beautiful with green harley, and spots of wheat springing up, became submerged, and from my shop-door it appeared one large sheet of water. Immense quantities of large timber came down the river; this occurring, after the repeated freshes wo have had lately, gave us reason to know that the waters had risen verv high up the river.- One large straddle, containing a quantity of pumpkins, some fowls, and a cat, went down the river ; and although T have not heard of any loss of life, still I feel sure many inmates of the different farm houses on the banks of the river have been in great danger. Many of the surrounding houses in the lower parts of the township were under water, and it was eight feet deep in Mr. Poole's mill. Many of tho settlers on the Tarree Kstate and Munderprook have suffered severely ; some had to leave their houses and seek shelter elsewhere. It was up to the roof of the punt-house. It continued rising up to Thursday afternoon, about four o'clock, and still raining;

On Friday morning it was receding fast—but still j looking very dull and threatening; on Saturday ; morning, falling fast. This has been a very fino day ; the sun shone out beautifully—tho first timo for " III(; days. Threo vessels happened to be at this township iust aa the rise in the river began The ' 1 ihoitv,' Captain Brown, the ' Guiding Star,' Cupt.unPicketon; and the ' Lightning,' Captain Sudger. They all went over to the Tarree side ; one wont on the ploughed "round, another on the Government road, and another on the hank of tho river. It was as much as they could do to hold their own ; but they are all right now, and loading for Sydney. Communication was so much stopped from other parts of tho river that I have not heard of any lossob in particular to report; but I havo much fear that wo have still to hear of many losses, and much misery many of tho settlers havo had to go through, this last week. Any how, I must add to my melancholy report., to tell you of a sad accident which occurred on lucsday last, by which two lives were lost, reported to mo as follows : Dr. Hutchison, of Tarree, had been sent for to go to Eedbank (called the South Passage, on this river), to see u person named Gilmore, who was very ill; on returning, Mr. Gilinore's son Robert (n young man twenty vcars of age), and a person named Thomas Parmer 'were going with him home in a boat; tliev had a sail, and not far from the house of Mr. Gilmore a heavy squall upset tho boat; Dr. Hutchison and voung Gilmore were drowned, and Thomas Parmer had a narrow escape of sharing the samo fate; bow he escaped is a miracle. Gilmore was long residing on tho Manning, and his boy was much respected by all who knew him. Dr. Hutchison came to live among ua about twelve months ago ; he was beginning to get into good practice, was considered an able and active practitioner, and was very much respected. He leaves a widow and ono little girl to mourn his sudden denth. The bodies have not been found ;it is supposed that they will go out to sea by tho fresh and rapid current that was running. Roi.i.ami's Plains. —I have another very unpleasant task to undertake—that is, to chronicle another flood. It commenced to rain oil Saturday morning the 6tli; rained heavy nil day and night, and on Sunday morning the river began to rise, and became uncrossohle, and kept on the rise all day, hut very slowly; it went down a littlo on Sunday night, hut as tho rain continued in a constant downpour, it. was soon apparent that a rise must tako placo ; and on Monday morning, about 10 o'clock, it began to rise in earnest, and by night it wns bank high in most plncoa, and in others had flooded its banks, and was beginning to fill all the low places. Rained hero all night, with a strong wind from tho south, soufnwest, and south-east, and violent was the wind, and the noise it made was truly awful. On Tuesday morning it was still on tho rise, and very few dry places to be seen ; raining very heavy at times, and no appearance of clearing up. It rose until about two o'clock p'm., when it began to fall; it was then about two feet lower than the last flood.—Four o'clock! It has fell about six or eight ipches, but it still rains in very heavy showers.—Wednesday morning : It hasfaHenduringthenightabouteightcen inches, but still the rain pours down in long showers of two or three hours at a time, and scarcely more than half an hour between them. As far as I can see, all tho houses and huts are dry, but each on a small island and no communication with cach other —that is, tho places built on the low ground.—Ten o'clock a.m.: Kiver rising a little : every appearance of another rise. Look on the low lands where you will, there is nothing but a large sheet of water to with the exception a few dry spot,s where the buildings are upon. At four o'clock p.m., the sun has thought proper to make his appearance, which is quite cheering. From morning until now the rivor fell a little, but at present it is on the rise. I have heard one of the oldest inhabitants on tho Plains say that be never knew such a year for rain and floods. Every - thing looks as if the place was in ruins ; no gritn patches to enliven the sight. All looks dreary and wild—fences down, logs on the ground, tho wheat or green crops all or nearly all gone—tho prospect; very unclieerful indeed —makes everyone quite out of heart to see their toil and labour gone, and left almost destitute in everything in the shape of crops. Should such weather continue, it will havo the oll'ect of causing numbers to leave hear and look out for other places free from Hood if they can find any. All the small settlers, or nearly all, have left and taken free-selections in spots they consider free from floods ; and some of the old settlers who havo got homes, and which were considered good ones, have taken free selections, and I believe will (as soon as they can get them fit to take their families to) turn their property into cattle paddocks. The places they have selected give them every encouragement to do so, as the floods whicli have been so prevalent this year never came near their land, and being a rich soil, they have only to dear and improve; hut it is like beginning the world again to begin to open such dense scrubs as they have begun, but they havo got some large spots cleared. Seme had crops this year, and I must say that I never saw liner maize, pumpkins, or potatoes grown in tho district; and I have every reason to believe that the places they have got will turn out to their expectations. It is to be liopod so, for their losses this year have been groat. —Thursday morning: Rained in light showers throughout the night. The water has gone down off the high land, and is confined to the gullies and creeks ; looks very dull, and the weather very unsettled. Everything looks out of order, every one out of heart and dispirited, and no ono knows what to do for tho best.