DREADFUL FLOOD IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8757, 19 April 1890, Page 2

DREADFUL FLOOD IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

BRAVE MEN TRY TO STOP TIIE BREAK.

|PHR PRESS ASSOCIATION J \ Continued from column 5.J

A great hurst in the embankment at Bourke took place at 4.30 on Friday afternoon, near the Hospital Buildings, but it was nol till 11 o'clock at night that the works finally gave way. After it waa found the bank could not be repaired, ther« was a scene of the wildest excitement. Men on horseback galloped to and fro, informing their friends, and men, women, and children could seen rushing about the streets in the wildest confusion. This, however, only lasted ii short time. Everybody set to work to save property and do what they could to get the women and children and bedding away by the steamer to North Bourke. Some brave fellows, despite the fact that they were liable to be swept away, made gallant efforts to block the water, and as a last resort the men actually stood shoulder to shoulder with their backs to the water right along the gap while others shovelled up earth as quickly as they conlil. Tins was no use and the large tarpaulins were then stretched across the breaks, and sandbags piled up against them, but the force of the water carried them away like ao much paper. Ten minutes after the first alarm had been given, two hundred people were on the ground, but it was seen that all efforta would be useless, and the busy thriving town after all the hard work and loss of time and money was about to be submerged.

This is the greatest flood ever known by whitemen in Australia. A mile to the north of where the water broke through the embankment is carrying eleven feet, and if this had gone the whole town must have been literally swept away ; as it is, great anxiety is felt, for, even if it gives now, great destruction must ensue.

All private embankments in the town are being built higher, and made as secure as possible, but it is feared that before the flood goes down many brick buildings will collapse.

The current round the corners and in between the houses will be a terrible Bource of danger. The water is up to an ordiuary man's waist all over the town.

Bourke now stands in the midst of a great inland sea, forty miles wide. Judging from the mass of water passing Brewarrina, higher up the river, Bourke may expect another two or three feet rise.

The latest reports say that early this morning the private embankments began to fail.

We learn from Mr Bauchope, who has recently returned from Wellington, that whilst there he had an interview with one of the Ministry with regard to the promise made by the Government to subsidise the BuHhfire Rolicf Fund by £ for £. We undcrKtand the Government has acceded to the request, with the condition that the Crown Lands Commissioner (Mr Weetman) forms one of the Committee.