THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12928, 26 July 1905, Page 3

THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

MANY EXCITING INCIDENTS.

FAMILIES IN DANGER.

Gumhcai, July 11. Gc.vdagai was in a state of flood to-day. The river rose very quickly last night, and at daylight was 24ft 6in above summer level. Nearly "the whole of the flats are covered. The water is over the tops of the fences, and running over the top of Morley s bridge, .which is out of sight. The waters made their way into several houses in low centres, and washed away the house of a man on the flat, He was rescued early this morning by the aid of ropes. A number of stock which were surrounded were rescued with difficulty. The river is still rising (a-quar-t-er to twelve a.m.), but it is thought that no serious consequences are likely to arise.

Only an inch and a-half has fallen here since Saturday, but over sin fell at Tumut. These waters are now coming down the Tumut, in - conjunction with the Yass waters; but both these streams are falling now, although there is a steady rise here.

There was considerable excitement in town this morning in rescuing the stock from a flat. One small mob of cattle was caught in a wire fence in sight of the townspeople, and it looked as it the cattle would be drowned, but aftei luilf-an-hour's struggle they got away. Not many stock have been lost, but a lot of fencing has been destroyed. Lieutenant Jones, of the Salvation Army, was washed off the Brungle bridge, which he was crossing on a bicycle, but was rescued by a resident after some difficulty. Another man fell into the Tumut River whilst trying to rescue a dog, and only, struggled out after being washed down lialf-a-mile.

To-day was 0110 of anxiety for people Jiving on the MuiTumbidgee River. All day long-residents were engaged rescuing stock from dangerous places, and a number of sensational occurrences took place. ' With the exception of two heads of horses, all the stock on the common were taken to a place of safety, the last lot, rescued at four o'clock, having to swim a distance of a mile over wire fences and bridges. The water continued to rise steadily all day, and people living on the low lands cleared out to placet; of safety. A family named Vaughan had to be rescued in the middle of last night, the water rushing through their house while the people were in bed. Another family named Quinn, residing in Sheridan Lane, was flooded out, 4ft of water running through their house. The flats are almost completely covered, and the stream is bringing down huge logs, rabbits, and a few stock. The river has been stationary for the past hour, but is 25ft 3in above summer level.

Daly, a lad, driving a milk-cart from Kimo station, had a narrow escape when coming into town. The water, which was running all over the road, washed through the vehicle, and the horse became fractious, threatening to go into the washaway, but the current in the stream sent him back to the roadway.

Aluury, July 11. The continuous heavy rain lias excited apprehensions of a flood along the Murray. During the past five weeks a total of 830 points of rain was registered at Albury, and the weather continues squally and showery. On account of the warmth of the rain a large body of snow is also coining; down, and the fiver is rising rapidly. Much of the lowlying country is under water. The flats be-, tween Albury and Wodonga are wholly covered, in some places to a depth of four or five feet.

Yesterday the town and district of Wodonga were partly inundated. House Creek, which runs through the tow, came down a, banker and earned everything before it. Fences, culverts, and timber were swept away, and in several instances houses were surrounded and boats had to be brought into requisition to rescue some of the residents of the flat. A family—a woman and six children—had . a startling experience. Their home was swamped, the water rising about sft around it, and they had to . take refuge on the tables •* and '• fences.;. For some time it was impossible to get. them out of their predicament owing to the furious rush of water from, the converging streams . but eventually Mr. Tenner, a resident, mounted a reliable horse and rode out. By taking one of the family up at a time and making seven journeys, he succeeded in effecting their rescue, but at great personal risk, the . water, running so powerfully and swiftly that the horse could' only keep on its feet with extreme difficulty:

INJURED MAN'S TERRIBLE PLIGHT. Sydney, July 11. The rain continues, and the river is rising rapidly. It is reported that -a. volume of water is still to come down. The police at Wodonga were kept busy yesterday owing to the. flooded condition of the low-lying country. About nine a.m. a report reached the police station that a man named William Barkly had fallen over, a 25ft. cliff into House Creek,' and was lying in a hut in Heckendorfs paddock, about three miles and a-half from town, suffering from a fractured thigh. The police at once drove to'the'hut, where they found Barkly suffering great- pain. They cut off his wet and muddy clothing, and .Sergeant Simpson, requisitioning the lining of the hut and some deal .boards, set the injured limb. Barkly stated that when he fell there were several feet between him and the stream, but - as the water rose his position became very dangerous. He dragged himself to a place of safety, lying all night in torrents of rain. On Sunday morning three brothers named Craig found him and removed him to the hut. He is now,-in the Albury Hospital;. FLOODS AT WANGARATTA. , A MAN AND A BOY DROWNED. Melbourne, July 11. \ Floods at Wangaiutta were responsible to-day for the drowning of James Taylor, aged 24, and Albert Sheridan, aged 13. . A party consisting of Walter Taylor, his son James, his daughter Lizzie, a grandson •named. Bowden, . James Shea, and Albert Sheridan, went out in a spring dray to catch rabbits on a bend of King River, near Taylor's ' residence. While returning they lost the track, and the vehicle capsized in a deep hole. Sheridan was swept away, and, was not seen again, but the others by a desperate struggle succeeded in getting to a place of safety. James Taylor subsequently made an attempt to save the horse, and swam across- a 15ft current to where the animal was floundering. His legs became entangled in the harness, and he was drowned. .

A report from Thursday Island states that, there are now 28 coloured .people confined at the leper station on Friday Island, one of the group of islands in Torres Straits., Of these cases 12 were sent there during the past year. During the past 12 months five of the patients were released by death from further suffering. The spiritual welfare of the stricken people is not neglected. The lepers have constructed a small building out of a number of discarded packing cases. In this primitive building church services aire held, occasionally, by the Right Rev. Gilbert White, M.A., Anglican Bishop of Carpentaria, and also by the vicar of the parish. Considerable inconvenience has been caused on the station by the arrival of a female leper, who was sent to the island with the last batch of sufferers. There is no adequate provision for the separation of the sexes, and the poor creature has to be accommodated in a small hut adjoining, but not altogether cut off from the quarters occupied by the men. One of the lepers, has his wife living with him, the woman having gone into voluntary exile "for her husband's sake." These two people have several voung children with them in the settlement, and their prospects under the circumstances are awful to contemplate. California Syrup of Figs overcomes habitual constipation by fortifying the liver and bowels; it is Nature's pleasant laxative. White shirts, 6s 6d, reduced to 2s 6d; woollen sweaters, 4-s lid, reduced to 6d; coloured sweaters, 3s lid to 3s 6d; knitted underpants, 2s 6d to Is 6d. Great alteration sale at Geo. Fowlds'.