The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-18

npout " being the TACT that TWO, or ~ the most
three days never elapsed without the advent
or rain. As we mentioned In our issue
OF Tuesday, the evening OF Monday was showery;
Dut later IN the night the showers assumed heavier
. form, and a steady downpour set in which lasted
until nearly daybreak II win readily be believed by
readers at distance that after having our town and
district devastated 80 frequently this season there
was no very great disposition among the people OF
Maitland to indulge IN any particular Festivities even
upon the occasion OF the birthday OF our gracious
sovereign; nevertheless there were few among the
community who felt disposed to make the best OF II
and TO practise the philosophy Of the celebrated Mark
Tapley by being "j0lly.o even under such literal
hampers as the weather has lately thrown upon us TO
these the sound of FLASHING ram and the moaning of
the wind IN strong. itful gusts on Monday night
was anything but enivenng, but the bulk OF the in.
habitants here, we think were t0erably resigned to
what now seems inevitable, and were prepared to
accept the chronic state OF inundatlOn which appears
to be our destiny with the fortude OF stoics IL was
however, matter OF congratulation to all when
brilliant sun beaming overhead, giving promise OF
genuine "Queen's weather. Tor the benefit OF those
who desired to honor her Majesty's natal day..-a
promise which was fully realized, for the whole day
was all that could be desired although there were
ominous clouds gathering around the horizon before
he evening" During the night, or rather early yes
terday morning the showers again began to fall
although they were not particularly heavy, nor did
they continue very long.
The long continuance OF wet weather has had the
erect OF Keeping the land nso saturated condition
mat 1t Is absolutely unable to absorb any more mols
watershed runs OH Into the river as quickly as 10
falls The effect OF this is that the river rises and
lails with almost every change In the barometer !;
when the mercury falls the rises. and vtce versu
The showers at the latter end OF last week had
caused the river to rise from thirteen feet to which
had fallen on Wednesday, to seventeen feet Satur-
day. 1t fell on Sunday to about fifteen feet six inches
but commenced slowly rising again on Monday morn.
Ing It was therefore confidently expected that fur
tner rise would be apparent on Tuesday morning
NO one was therefore surprised to see that the
gauge at the Belmore bridge marked height Of
twentythree feet SIX inches soon after daylight in
the morning very strong current was then run.
ming down, and there were but plainly visl BILE
the indications OF an approaching Hood. The news
from up country was anything but comforting; for
the rain OF Monday had extended as far as Murru.
rundi ana the Wollombl the creeks being flooded at
the latter place, and the river at Singleton beng
over tweni7-three feet above the usual level. The
river here continued to Increase in volume all day
at gradual and steady rate. About md
uay IL had almost reached the level OF the
street at the breach In the High street en-
pankment; IL was nearly coming over behind
Mr. Pattersons and 1t had commenced to
flow once more into the Horseshoe Bend at PenfoId,s
The inhabitants of this last named unfortunate 10.
caty were again returning to their habItatons and
were again gong through the weary labor OF clean
ing ana drying their houses, and arranging their
Lares and Penates in the vain hope that they would
be no more pursued by that 'unmerciful dsastern
which has 0vertaken them so many times OF late. It
Is all very well to blame these unfortunate people
FOR returning to their homes-but what can they
AS we have before pointed out, there are no houses
to be obtained In parts Of the town beyond mood
reach, and 1t is not to be supposed that they could
continue TO nerd together IN the public buildings
any longer than absolutely necessary. There Is no
choice for them; they are compelled to return to
their own houses soon the water goes out even
though 1T be at the risk or colds fevers and ali the
other maladies incident upon living In such damp
habltati0ns.
Towards evening on Tuesday the water was run.
nng across the East Maitland road in two or three
places. Wallis creek had risen nearly to the he CHIT
OF the beams supporting the flooring OF the Victoria
Bridge, and very strong current was running up
the creek, creating quite little rapid at the obstruc
ton caused by the remains OF the Inflated flood.
gates. The flow OF water up the creek had per-
ceptbe influence upon the back water before night
luIl OH tuesday. and Yesterday n hic
was still more marked. The water had once more
nearly covered Nlcholsons lucerne paddock between
sea OF water that which had been day or two pre-.
viOusly bog Of mud, and where 1t Is almost impos.
carpet OF lucerne was to be seen.
At the back of Mr.. PattersOns the river threatened
on Tuesday morning, to overflow into High street,
TO prevent this O number OF corporation laborers
were set to work. who In the course OF the day threw
up temporary, but tolerably substantial embank-
ment OF earth which answered the purpose Of keep
ing out the water of this point At the back of the
Catholic church the hollow, where large landslip
took place last week, was again filed with water
also, but OF such slight dimensions as to appear
likely to prove OF little benefit IN the event of rise
OF only few inches, and in point Of fact gave way
yesterday
At five O'Clock on Tuesday evening the bridge
gauge showed height OF twenty-seven feet four
inches. The rate of rise had then begun to sacken
and we do not tn nix that greater height than
twenty-seven feet eight or nine inches was attained
at all during the night On Yesterday morning there
slowly during the morning. and remained all day at
nearly twenty-eRht feet above low water mark The
weather cleared up and became fine overhead. At
midday yesterday the water was still flowing over
High street at the embankmen but 1t had been Sue
cessruy kept out at other parts Of the street.
II was remarked that although the current OF
this flood has been very strong estimated at over six
knots per hour there has been scarcely any drift
timber or rubbish brought down. This is no doubt
owing to the fact that the banks OF the rivers and
creeks up country had been swept bare by previous
floods, and it Is q Iact consolatory as far it
goes that there Is little or produce left in the dis
trIct for the floods to destroy Indeed, but for the
inconvenience and danger caused to human beings,
the damage to house property and the delay to
agricultural operations, the floods are now unable
to work any great amount OF evil. The danger to
house property on the banks OF the river and even
to the High street itself, however is
considerably increased by every visitation of
the kind, especially the floods follow each other
fast that 1t Is impossible to take any steps to re-
another is upon AT present we do not notice any
changes In the river bank in or the town, eX-
cept that large SLID has taken place near the only
another portion Of the bank has given way near the
enl Of hunter street; but there is too much reason
to fear that the subsistence OF this flood Will be FOL.
lowed by similar disasters to those that have been
caused by the four previous floods this year. At the
back of st. Johns Cathedral AMI in several parts of
the Horseshoe Bend the bank looks very shaky TO
say the least OF 1t. The ruins of the government en-
bankment In High street exhibit signs Of further
crumOling away.
on Wednesday morning O strong stream was flow-
ing up Wallis creek, the water being Just one foot
from the top OF the wall Of the Hood gates or twenty.
nine feet from the bed OF the creek The current as
1t passed upwards dashed against the floor timDers
OF the Victoria Bridge, but had not come over the
carriage way. The water also made It's way in a
shallow stream over the corn patch in Mr.. Miles,
paddock, but there was no other breach from tho
creek till where, below Mr.. Days residence 1t en-
tered the hollow and howed in the old channel till 1t
came to the timber bridge near the mill in East
Mait!and-Mount's mill. Here the current was some
yards in width, and sufficiently deep to prevent pc
destrlan traffic; the quantity OF water appearing TO
be- III our view, rather greater than sometimes pUurs
over When the river above higher. But we are SO
prepared now for variations OF levels that We are
not surprised at new exhibitions Of velocity depth
OF current III any given locality, and are prepared
for novelties OF whatever nature.
Looking towards East Maitland from the opening
OF tie M0rpeth road the greater part of the farm
land lying north OF 1t is seen to be partially under
water pOns Of water alternating with strips OF land
revealing signs OF former and deeper submersion.
SO towards hOrpeth, rs the traveller passes on
wards at his left hand the same scene presents
4 md I'm ia