FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2714, 20 January 1910, Page 5

FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

CABLE NEWS.

THE HIGHEST FOR 45 YEARS. WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION. United Pkichb Association—COl'YlUUHT. SYDNEY, Jan. 18. The flood at Ban-aba is the highest for 45 years. The flooding of the mines at Invercll and Bingha caused serious damage. Several mining dredges have been sunk. When the waters from the higher river reach Walgett a flood is expected. Communication with Moree and Weewaa is still interrupted. SYDNEY, Jan. 19.

Belated reports coming to hand from flooded districts show that in many cases the flood was higher than ever previously known. The devastation is widespread and greater than at first anticipated.

Later reports of the Weewaa fatality state that besides the four names already mentioned, a policeman and two other men were also in the capsized boat, .and were drowned.

Oommunication with Weewaa has not yet been established.

DEAD SHEEP PILED UP

Two relief boats -which left Gunnedah for Weewaa have reached Barraba, a journey of 400 miles. The whole course of the river is a scene of devastation. Dead sheep and other animals are floating about or piled up everywhere here. There are patches of [highland standing out of the flood. These are crowded with animals still living. Dozens of houses, half submerged .and abandoned, dotted both sides of the river everywhere. The boats still 'have a long and perilous journey to make before reaching Weewaa, where the worst is now over. The water is falling, but it will be some days before it will be sufficiently cleared to ascertain the full extent of the damage. Many settlers’ homesteads are still isolated. MANY SETTLERS RUINED. In the area between Narrabri and Boggabri alone it is calculated that 100,000 sheep perished. At Narrabri peoiile took refuge in two-storey buildings, the water invading all the business places and residences. -Some people spent two days on roofs, and were short of a supply of food. Numerous narrow escapes are reported. Many settlers lost everything. A large number of people are destitute. The Government is providing efficient relief where necessary. It is now reported that two men, Yeomans and Reynolds, lost their lives at Moree. Fifty persons have been provided with temporary homes and relief at Tamworth. It is reported that quantities of debris from the swollen rivers are collecting in Newcastle harbor.

TWO RIVERS STILL RISING

(Received January 19, 11 p.m.)

SYDNEY, Jan. 19

The reason for the magnitude of the flood was that rain fell uniformly heavily oA’er the entire Avaterslied, the rivers rising simultaneously.

Streets, houses and towns where the floods have receded are in a terrible state with slush, debris, and dead animals. Gangs of men are clearing them.

The Namoi and Bar,Avon river s are rising rapidly still. Enormous bodies of water are coming doAvn. Walgett and other tOAA'ns along the loAver reaches are (preparing for big floods. Stock and property are being removed to places of safety'. The extent of the damage to the railway's may be gathered from the fact that forty Avash-outs occurred betAveen Inverell and Delungra, a distance of 250 miles. Many of the smaller bridges collapsed, but none of the larger ones. Big gangs are engaged in repairing the lines. SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCES. Amongst many sensational experiences ar© those of a black fellow, rescued after floating tAVO' days on a log, and a Avidow and four children who Avere rescued Avlien the Avater was up to the woman’s armpits, as she stood on a table.

At Gunnedah, Alderman Brooker found a man sitting on a piano. The flood waters carried him in, and he spent the night on the top of the piano, the only place of safety. A man named Huxley Avas droAvned at Bingara.