FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4302, 18 January 1910, Page 3

FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Sydney, January 17. The weather cleared on Saturday, and it is now bright and sunny. Eleven inches of rain fell at Tamworth since Tuesday. The river overflowed, and inundated a large portion of the town, including the main streets, the water ranging from 4ft to 10ft deep. Great damage was done, all the low lying lands along the river being under water. Some settlers’ houses were swept away. Other settlers were compelled to seek refuge in hay stacks and on roofs. Latest reports are that the water is falling. Nairibri and Quirindi report high floods, great damage to crops, and considerable losses to stock. *lhe mail trains from Brisbane and Sydney were delayed 15 hours, owing to washaways between Mondi and Lamworth. Telegraphic communication generally has been greatly disorganised during the last few days by the rain. Telegraphic communication with the flooded districts is being restored. Reports slowly coming to hand show that immense damage has been caused and several lives lost.

The Railway Commissioners have received a wire from Moree that four men were taking a boat alongside a ballast train, which was surrounded by floods, when the boat capsized, and all were drowned. No details have yet been received. A wide area round Gunnedah is under water, and the boats rescued many people from the tops of stacks and houses, where they had taken retuge. Numbers of thrilling and narrow escapes were made. A rescue boat capsized, and a man is missing. The damage at Tamworth is estimated at £30,000. Narrabri and other centres suffered severely, many people being flooded out, though as far as possible stock was removed to high ground. The losses are heavy. The railway service is badly disorganised, numerous washaways occurring. The damage to railways and the roads in the flooded districts is heavy. Many bridges have been destroyed. Queensland telegrams report heavy rain, with a flood at Dalby. So rapid was the rise of the flood in Tamworth that several hundred people, caught in business places were cut off from food supplies for 16 hours, many having to take refuge on verandahs and roofs. A number of sensational incidents and gallant rescues are reported from surrounding districts. Thousands of sheep and large numbers of horses and cattle weie drowned, while the havoc wrought in the business portion of the town was immense. The scene at the height of the flood was indescrible; as the heavy debris swept along it smashed doors and windows, and stock was carried out of shops in large quantities. The streets,'as the water subsided, were littered with furniture and stock-in-trade of all descriptions, and presented a remarkale appearance. At Narrabri the flood was the highest known, large areas of the surrounding districts being submerged, and widespread damage wrought. Many settlers were compelled to leave their homes. The owners succeeded in getting most of the stock to high ground before the worst came. At Gunnedah the lower part of the town was flooded, some houses up to the eave, the residents taking refuge in public buildings. The country is a sea for ten miles round, and many residents spent the night on the roofs and up trees. Two men are reported missing. The township of Carroll was swept by flood waters, and gome houses were carried bodily away. Furniture and dead stock littered the rivers. The losses of stock in the district are believed to be heavy. At Narrabri and Moree the full extent of the damage is not konwn. Great tracts of country are inundated- I * , The latest reports are that the water is slowly receding. Farmers along the valley suffered severely.

Received 12.10 a.m., 18th. Sydney, January 17. Railway traffic between Inverell and Moree is stopped and is not likely to be restored for some time owing to the collapsa of a bridge. The destruction of two other bridges lias blocked the line between Warilda and Bingara. Received 8.45 a.m., 18th. Sydney, January 18. Though the floods are receding wide areas are still under water and many outlying places are cut off. The losses of stock are very heavy. Hound Gunnedah it is estimated that 20,000 sheep have perished as well as many cattle. The stench from the decaying animals forms a menace to the health of the town. Hundreds of other cattle, after swimming for miles, managed to escape. People returning to their homes after two days’ absence found them in a terrible state in deep filth, and in some cases blocked by dead animals. Amongst other heavy losers are the North Western Grain Company, which had 20,000 bags of wheat ruined.