DREADFUL FLOOD IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8759, 22 April 1890, Page 2

DREADFUL FLOOD IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

BOURKE A SCENE OF DESOLATION

AND RUIN.

300,000 SHEEP DESTROYED.

RELIEF SENT TO THE PEOPLE. [per press association.]

Sydney, April 21. — Bourke is a scene of abject desolation and ruin. Tho Government is sending a Special Commission to report on the position of affairs, and relieving funds are being opened throughout the colony. It is estimated that 300,000 sheep have been drowned in the Walgett district. The town of Louth, on the Darling River, 65 miles below Bourke, is surrounded by water. The residents have erected embankments.

In regard to the terrible floods caused by the uprising of the River Darling, which have submerged the towns of Bourke and Browarrina in New South Wales, and done incalculable damage through the western districts, we extract the followingparticulars from Sydney papers to baud : A public meeting was held five weeks ago, at which it was agreed tbat^the town should be embanked. The Government was applied to for money, and at first allowed a grant of £750, but this being found altogether insufficient the sum was afterwards increased by £1000. Tenders were called for a complete line of embankment around the town, and twelve contracts were entered into.

Some 250 men were put on to do the work to-day, which was regarded as a critical time, some of tho most well-to-do merchants, clerks, and bank assistauts were taking the place in building up entrenchments which were to save the township. Tho town, which lies between the River Darling on one side and the railway on the other, is about 720 acres in extent. It is simply a flat. Tho mudwall which surrounds it, und which holds in the waters of the river varies from 1 foot in height to 10 feet. The water is within G inches of the top of that embankment, and is reported as still rising. It thus becomes a matter of fighting tho floods. This is being done inch by inch. The total embankments around the town stretch for miles, and men are at work guarding the same. The great danger to Bourko is that there are 10 miles of water bearing upon the embankments on the north side of £the river, and there is no knowing from one minute to another but that these might give way and the place be submerged. The earthworks, however, cannot bear much more strain than is now being placed upon them. If the river keeps level or subsides, the town is safe. From other river townships the following 1 details conic to hand : — Louth : The river is now 42 feet above the summer level, and rising at the rate of nearly three inches per day. The embankments round the town are progressing favourably, but it is anticipated from the accounts o£ the rise up the river, that we will not have time to complete the embankments before the high waters reach us, and men are very scarce. On account of the high floods they are unable to travel along the river roads. Wires have been received from the up-river stations warning us to prepare for the biggest flood ever seen on the Darling.

LATEST DETAILS.

Sydney, April 22. — The water remains stationary at Bourke, and it is expected it will ba three weeks before it commences to recede.

Xine hundred women and children are living under canvas at North Bourko, where rations are served out daily. Many of them have been rendered destitute.

North Bourke is now an island three miles square, and about 10 feet above htp-h water.