FLOODS AND BAD WEATHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1949, 2 July 1891, Page 15

FLOODS AND BAD WEATHER.

SERIOUS DAMAGE. (Peb Pbess Association.) Sydney, June 26. News comes from the Islands of the wreck of the American brigantine George Douglas at King Mill group. The orew were saved. Severe storms swept over the Ellice group, reaching the Gilbert group. Heavy damage j was inflicted on the latter, many of the. ' islands being inuhdated%by seas. A large quantity of wreckage was washed ashore, apparently from a Dutch vessel. The shipping trade along the coast is paralysed owing to the tremendous sea. It is raining heavily, and for miles above Richmond the farms and homesteads are submerged. Great damage has been done to the crops. The Murrumbidgee is flooding miles of country, and it is feared that there will be a most disastrous flood. The township of Windsor is completely surrounded by water, but at Murrumbidgee it is receding. June 27. The roads in the interior are in a terrible condition, and communication has been far] terrupted in many districts. As soon as the rains cease shearing will begin. During the easterly gales now prevailing four schooners, the Banger, Sarah Beattie, Budgaree, and Bessie Maud, have beec wrecked ; the first at Newcastle, the others along the south coast. All the crews were saved. June 28. The country round Gundagai is inundated and the drowning of two men is reported. June 29. The flood in the Murrumbidgee is within 2ft of the height of the memorable flood in 1852, when the old township of Gundagai was washed away and 81 of the inhabitants drowned. Although the water is now falling, there is a current running with fearful rapidity, and several houses have been washed away. Goodin and Worland are the names of the men drowned at Gundagai. A relief party went out to rescue the men, who were perched in trees, and took off four of them. On the return journey the boat capsized, and the men clung to Bnags for nearly seven hours. Out of a crowd of 40 people who had collected on dry ground only one, named True, volunteered to endeavour to rescue the unfortunate men. He started in a boat by himself, and after two attempts succeeded in rescuing all except Worland and Goodin. The town of Wagga Wagga is in a bad state. Telegraphic communication with Sydney is interrupted, but meagre news is to hand via Melbourne. Late last night matters were in a serious condition. The town was being gradually flooded, and the gaaworks were submerged. One man has been drowned, and boats are badly wanted. The township of Qaeenbeyan is flooded to a depth of 6ft, and Terrawa to a depth of Bft. Stocks and produce are being swept down the Murrumbidgee. June 30. The settlers along the banks of the Yass River have lost much valuable stock by the floods. In the lower part of Wagga Wagga the water is up to the ceilings and the^tops of the verandahs of many of the residences. Business in the town is completely paralysed. One pastoralist has lost 4000 sheep. The water at Gundagai is subsiding. Melboubnb, June 29. It is now believed an old wreck off Olonmel Island has been mistaken for a fresh disaster at Port Albert, where the collector of customs reported a wreck on Saturday. Great floods are coming down in the Gippsland snow valley, which is completely under water, and relief parties are out. The boat uaed by one of them capsized, and two men are missing. Many farmers are almost rained