STORMS AND FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2442, 5 March 1909, Page 4

STORMS AND FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION IN QUEENSLAND. CYCLONES AND HAILSTORMS. United Peess Association, Copybight PERTH, March 4. Tuesday night’s storm caused AA’idesuread devastation in the Northern and York districts. Following four days’ intense heat--rain, accompanied by large hail- Jr - stones and. a cyclonic wind, commenced suddenly at Northam. The rain fell in cataracts. Thezx there was a lull, followed by another* -even—worse - storm—lt_is- estimated that seA*en inches of rain fell in 35 minutes. The arms of the Avon river oA'erfiowed. - ' A wall of waters 200 yards wide and sft deep, carrying fences, small structures, and all moveable before it, -rushed doAvn on the town, a lid flooded” the main .street to a depth of 4ft. ' Scarcely a house in the town-escap-ed. People took refuge on chairs and boxes placed on tables. There were many narrow escapes of the men engaged- in rescuing. -One man was washed, out of a buggy, but was saved by clinging to a - heu-eoop. ‘' “" _ Tlie constable in charge of the lockup, Avading up. to his arm-pits in water, released two prisoners who oiherAA’ise would have been drowned. To make matters worse, the electric station was flooded, and the tOA\ri -was- -in darkness. - - - ~ - The waters subsided at the end of three hours. At daylight the town presented remarkable picture. The streets Avere v '-yx~ eA'erywhere littered Avith debris, dead dogs and sheep, and thousands of fowls. •

Most of the houses were filled with mud and uninhabitable, the contents being largely destroyed. Business people -are the greatest losers through . damage to stock by the rain. The damage is estimated at - £IO,OOO to - £15,000.The Mayor has opened a relief , fuiid. ' ~ " - “ The.. railway .and J telegraphic services are disorganised. There are • tnany wasliaways. At York the storm lasted two horn's. Hailstones as large as pigeons 5 eggs fell. The main street was flooded.. Tho swing bridge . was partially washed .away, and miles of fencing destroyed. Great damage was done to property, and the orchards throughout the" district were devastated. THUNDERSTORMS IN VICTORIA. MONSTER HAILSTONES. MELBOURNE, March 4. Unusually severe thunderstorms have been experienced in various districts, causing floods. Monster hailstones fell and caused extensive damage. : " , •• ■ -■ 1 —» ■' ' :N