SHIPPING.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

ARRIVALS. City of Melbourne, s.s., 850 tons, H. Grain ger, from Sydney.

The barque King Oscar, Captain Sullivan, arrived at Newcastle on the 22nd inst.

The barque Kate arrived at Sydney on the 22nd inst., after a passage of 13 dajs. The brig Moa.arrived at Newcastle on the 21st inst.

The barque Sparkling Dew arrived at Syd_ niy from San Francisco on the 22 inst. t J?he barque Washington, hence, arrived a Sydney on the 21st inst.

IMPORTS

Per s.s. Phcebe, from Bluff: 1 case jams, Rev.* "Mr. McDonald. From Dunedin—2 bales, 1 case, Gilbert and Manley ; 1 case, W.. Posseneski ; 1 case, 1 box, G. W. Friend ; 1 truss, J. Halliday ; 1 case, J. McLaughlan ; 1 case, 1 bale, S. and J. R. Vaile ; 1 box, Hen derson and Macfarlane; 2 bales drapery, Cssgrave and Co.; 1 cask fuse, Renshaw. From Lyttelton—2 cases, W. Kohn. From Picton—l box, Henderson and Macfarlane ; 1 box gold, Bank New Zealand. From New Plymouth—3o bales flax, Rundle; 7 pigs, Buckland ; 268 sheep, Pearce; 3 cases butter, Clark and Thompson; 5 cases butter, 2 keg? ditto, Hood.—Henderson and Macfarlane, agents.

ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF MELBOURNE.

The »plendid screw steamer City of Mcl bourne, the second of the new line of mail steamers for England via Fan Francisco, arrived in harbour this morning, from Sydney, and will proceed on her passage to-morrow afternoon. She has 120 passengers for the various ports, in addition t,o the large number ■who will join her at this port. The.City is in command of Captain H. Grainger, a gentleman well known throughout Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Beel has received the appointment of chief officer; Mr. Millman, second; and Mr. Reed, third; and Dr. Schulzen is the doctor of the ship. We ate in - debted to Mr. R. Newman, purser, for complete files, and the following report of the passage : —The C.N.Z. and A. Mail Line s.s. City of Melbourne left Sydney on the 27th ult., at 5 p.m., wind S.E., blowing fresh, -with a heavy sea, which continued during the 24 hours; after that moderate weather prevailed, winds veering from S.E. to N.W. ; made the Three Kings on the evening of the Ist inst., at 9.30 p.m. ; since then experienced fresh southerly winds and fine weather. Anchored off Rangitoto at 11 p.m. on the 2nd, and at daylight on the 3rd weighed and proceeded into Auckland, arriving at 7.30 a.m. Passengers :—Saloon : For San Francisco —Mr. D.Peters, Mrs. and Miss Peters, Mr. Leo Burmister, Mrs. Leo Burmister, Mr. E. C. Colchester, Mr. Jno. Milne, Mr. G. E. Weyland, Mrs. G. E> Weyland and three children, Mr. Goodall, Mrs. Monger and child, Mrs. O'Brien, Mr. Walker, Mr. P. Gerold, Capt. Gregory, Mr. Travers, Rev. J. R. Jenkins. For Honolulu—Mr. D. D. P.igby, Miss Buchanan. Second cabin : For San Francisco —Mrs. Nichols, Mr. and Mrs. Kennard and six children, Miss Ellen Linch, Mr. and Mrs. Fisher and two children, Mr. Clulow, Mr. W. J. Smith, Mr. J. Hager, Mr. J. Brincombe, Mr. W. Symonds. Steerage: For San Francisco —54, and 16 children. For Auckland —5, and 5 children.

ARRIVAL OF THE PHCEBE.

The Circular Saw Company's e.s. Phcebe, H. Worsp, Esq., commander, arrived in the Manukau this morning from the South. She left the Bluff on the 27th April, and called at all the ports, leaving New Plymouth on the 2nd instant, and arrived in harbour at 10 a.m.

Passenosbs —Saloon: Mr. and Mrs. Recce and six children, Mr. and Mrs. Melhuish, Mr. and Mrs. West, Mrs. and Master Wilson, Mrs. Mcßae and infant, Mrs. Whitterd and two children, Mrs. and Master Kisslmg, Miss Abraham, Miss Chrisp, Ser. Mr. Jackson, Rev. Mr. Selig, Messrs. E. L. Bucholz, T. Or. Moore, W. H. Zissling, Smith, G-illies, Hepwoirth and servKnt, Harvey, Ledger, Robinson, Logan, D. Atkinson, Carey Jeffries. Second cabin : Mr. and Mrs. Fin lay and four children ; Messrs. A. Buatte, Rox, Dunmondie, G-eo. Barron, Chas. Ware, T. W. Dighty, A. Me William, W. Me William, James Galloway (2); D. Carmichael, Jame3 Thomson, T. McDonald, Peterson, George Pearce, Simpson, Macarron. We are indebted to Mr. Wheeler, purser, for full files.

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1870.

His Excellency accompanied by the Defence Minister,, returned yesterday afternoon, in the Luna, from his tour, to the Northern Districts'^ - The Bay of Islands, Kawa Kawa, Waiinate, Hokia nga, Ahipara, Mongonui, 'Whangaroa, were visited, and in "interviewing" natives and settlers^ cultivating the ■amenities and loyal feelings of the resi dents in the. Northern districts, the vie'e^ regal progress was attended with pleasure* and success. His Honor the Chief Justice Sir G.eorge Arney returned from the Bay of Islands, yesterday, by the p.s. Luna. Last night a meeting of non-commis sioned officers was held, at half past seven, to make arrangements for a Volunteer Ball, on the night of the Queen'a Birth day. Sergeant-Major Haslan presided, and after a long discussion, it was re solved to adjourn the- meeting till to night. A very snccessesful entertainment in connection with the Catholic Institute, a musical, literary, and dramatic melange, was held last night, a full report of which we are obliged to hold over till to-mor row. Thebk was a capital attendance at the Prince of Wales Theatre, the dress circle assuming quite a bright appearance. Mrs. Hill was warmly applauded during her clever impersonation of Margaret Wentworth, in " Henry Dunbar," and received frequent calls before the curtain. Mr. Kyan was as usual excellent as Henry Dunbar—many of his scenes being the true picture of an unhappy life. The Mayor could not have been placed in better hands than those of Mr. Macgowan, who made the most of it, and was loudly called for at the end of the drama, but his not appearing, led the audience to suppose he had carried his threat into execution, and " skeeJadled." Mr. Musgrave was at home as the detective Carter, and the other characters were well sustained by Messrs. Glover, Liardet, Miss Uaymond, and Mrs. Macgowan. To-night •• Henry Dunbar" will be reproduced, and we urge upon our readers not to lose the opportu nity of spending a couple of hours of legitimate employment. A novel kind of accident occurred this morning in Wyndham-street, opposite the door of Messrs. Gilbert and Manly, beside the Herald office. A horse and dog cart, belonging to Mr. Manly, were standing by the pathway, when the animal no doubt supposing that he might as well take things easy in the absense of any thing particularly pressing, quietly proceeded to lie down, smashing the shaft in the proceeding. A lady who was in the vehicle, with great presence of mind, made a spring and lightly touching the prostrate animal with her foot alighted in safety on terra firma. Thb success of our new San Francisco mail route may be augured from the favours bestowed on it by our Southern friends. Sixty-one huge bags and ten packages of letters arrived this morning from the South, per Phoebe, for trans mission per the City of Melbourne to-morrow; and it is only due to those concerned to state that from the hour — ten o'clock this morning—when the Phoebe anchored in the Manukau, and Mr. Brewer took charge of the mails, they were landed in boats at Onehunga, carted up the wharf, packed on coach, driven in to Auckland, and deposited in the Post Office in one hour and twenty minutes. Comparisons are " odorous," but we cannot say that such expedition characterises the landing and despatch of mails at the city itself. It -was really a sight worth looking at to see the coach tearing down along Queen-street this morning, loaded inside and out with mails, and over all presiding, the worthy and respected Sub-Collector of Customs of the Manukau, his genial countenance beaming with mingled happiness and solicitude as he gazed on his charge. A large crowd assembled at the Post.Office to see the immense Southern mails re ceived for San Francisco.

ARRIVAL OF THE 'PHCEBE.'

THE COLONIAL RIFLE CONTEST.

CHAMPION BELT WON BY OTAGO.

LATER TELEGRAMS.

SECOND DAY. Weather fine and calm. 2nd Set ot Phizes. —At ranges of 400, 500, 600 yards; 7 shots at each range : maxi mum points, 84 ; no prize to be given for a less less sqpre than 56 points. Ist prize, £40 and N.R.A. silver medal; 2nd prize, £30 and silver medal; 3rd prize, £20. Ist—Treseder (Otago) 62 2nd-Batham (Wellington) ... ... 61 3rd— G-ully (Nelson) 61 THIRD DAY. 4th Set, Running Phizes.—At a range of 200 yards- Time—s minutes, to commence utfirst shot; competitors to come 10-tded, but not capped, to the firing point; at the word " Commence," to cap and fire; after, every two shots the competitor to carry his rifle, ammunition, rod, and everything he makes use of in firing, round a post 50 yards off, loading whan he likes, but not capping until he arrives at the firing point; no assistance whatever permitted, lit prize, £9 ; 2nd prize, £8 ; 3rd prize, £7. Ist—Hazard (Thamts) 27 2nd—Cameron (Canterbury) ... ... 26 2rd—Renouf (Napier) 26 6th Szt of Pbizm—*ob Rapidity.—At ranges of 200 and 300 yards. Tim*, thr«o

minutes at each range, to commence at first shot, as in the 4th. set. No assistance whatever permitted. First prize, £9; 2nd prize, £8 ; 3rd prize, £7. Ist—Buchanan (Otago) . ... ,>- ..: 54 2nd—Goldie (Otago) .; ... ... 49 3rd—Smith (Westland) ~..../ ... 48 6th Set — CONSOiiAiIQTX Pbizbs. —:At ranges of 200 and 300 yards. Five shoits at each range. Maximum points,-,40. No prize will be given fora-less score than 27 points. Range, 200 "yards'—position, standing, Range, 300 yards—position, kneeling, .To be fired for bj those competitors only who have not succeeded in winning any prize in the previous.five sets., Ist prize, £5; 2nd a' prize, £4 10s ; 3rd, £4 ; 4th prize, £3 10s ; ~sth prize,; £3 ; sixth prize,'£2 10s ; 7th prize, £l'los. '•■'.••. . Ist—Liddle (Wanganui) 28 2nd—Boardman (Auckland) ... ... 27 3rd—Wearing (Canterbury) 27 ECalse (Wellington) 24 ■ The Champion Belt, G-old Medal, and the sum of £30, goes to the highest aggregate scorer in the Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and sth sets. This year the fortunate champion is Lieut. Goldie, of the Port Chalmers Naval Brigade, whose score was 180.

ARRIVAL OF THE 'CITY OF MELBOURNE.'

LATEST AUSTBALIAN TELEGRAMS

The fine steamer City of Melbourne arrived in harbour early this morning bringing news of further floods in Australia. We compete the following telegrams from the Sydney Morning Herald : — MELBOURNE, April 22. The Haymarkefc complications are still un setttled. Flour, £11 5s to £11 15s ; maize, 4s Id to 4s 3d. The Agricultural Board awarded Dr. Macks, of South Australia, the prize for the essay on " Takeall," in cereals- The Castlemain Bench have is3ued warrants against Dyer, who confessed to a murder in Victoria. The divers report that the ship Lighting is more broken up than was at first supposed ; a second explosion was more successful, and a portion of the hull and some casks of tallow were sent up. April 23. The Somersetshire is loading rapidly, and sails on Wednesday. Overland letters between Melbourne and Sydney are to be only 2d after the Ist May. Lieutenant Panther, of the training ship Nelson, goes home to bring out the Victorian ship Cerebus. The Agricultural Distillery Company intend commencing the manufacture of sugar from beet. The markets closed dull, owing to the de parture of the mail. April 25. The Josephine, a coasting schooner, sank in the bay during a squall on Saturday. The crew were saved. The Government are likely to call for fresh ; tenders for the first part of the North-eastern Railway. The Rev. W. Taylor, the Baptist minister at Sandhurst, is being tried for fraud as executor. The gold returns show a yield of 300,000 ounces less than the yield of the previous year. Mr. M'Kay, commercial traveller, was ar rested in Melbourne to-day, charged with embezzlement from Mr. Elliott, of Deniliquin i Maize firm. 6 p.m. Taylor has been convicted of fraud, and remanded for sentence; a point has been reserved. Sir James Palmer, President of the Board of Education, delivered his annual address ; he thinks compulsory education impolitic. The three men recently flogged are suffering considerably. Mr. Farlie's system of railway is likely to be tried on the Van Yean tramway. At the Pilot Board, Captain Devlin, formally protested against Captain Payne examining pilots. A 41-ounce nugget has been found at Glad stone Creek, Gippsland. April 26. The wreck of the Lighting is sufficiently broken up> that all pieces will easily be talcen ashore. Kerosene is firm. % Fresh tenders are invited for the railway until 6th May. Mr. Michie's speech at Ballarat yesternight appears in full in to-day's Argus. It occupies five columns and was telegraphed verbatim, — three wires working at it. In his speech he lightly and pleasantly defends Mr. M'Pherson, skimming over points in M'Culloch's address without divulging the Ministerial policy. Now gold discoveries have been made in the Avoca district, which have been officially re ported by the Mining Surveyor. A large rush is probable, the sinking being shallow. Wheat, 4s 9|d. An accident occurred on the Sandrige Rail way by an engine running into a passenger train; but fortunately, no person was seriously hurt. An inquiry will be held to day. The notorious Bathurst has been sentenced to three year*' imprisonment for fraud. A large fire took place at Ararat, destroying two hotels and seven stores. HOBART TOWN, April 23. The Hon. W- Kermode is dangerously ill. Sir James Fergusson is suffering from neu ralgia, consequent upon the ascent of Mount Wellington. ADELAIDE, April 22. Howe, formerly a bootmaker in Hindley •fereet, shot himself this morning. G-oode, the man injured during the late unemployed disturbances, has withdrawn his case for damages against the Inspector, leaving it for the Government to settle the matter. A writ has been served on Mr Blttckmore, Secrethry for Crown Lands, on behalf of the Northern Territory Company, for a return of their money. A private vessel is advertised to start shortly for the Northern Territory, and afterwards will trade between there and Timor and other Dutch settlements. Tho B. Aymer sailed yesterday for San Francisco, with 160 Germau and Irish colonists.

April 23. The com market is Tery firm in consequence of little -wheat offering

April 25. . Advices from Culcutta state that the Vice roy so highly approves of the flour .sent by the Jane Bell, that he has ordered, a supply for private use to be sent by the Simla. Todd's report on Commander Osborne's scheme is published. '. He recommends •an overland line from Port Augusta to Port Dar win, provided the company guarantee to land the cable at the latter port. Queensland is to be permitted to join at or near the. Eoper. Government have• adopted the report,,'and have communicated their decision to Com mander Osborne and the Colonial Secretary.

Com market very firm'; 5s 3d offering, but no sellers.

April 26,

Dr. Scomburgh proposes to the.Government to establish at Port Darwin aa experimental nursery for tropical commercial plants. G-old has been found in ballast brought by the Koh-i-noor from the Northern territory.

Mr. Addison landlord of the Southern Cross Hotel, was found dead in hie bed this morn ing. Sales of wheat transpired at 5s 3£d.

MOST DISASTROUS FLOODS IN THE HUNTER.

THE RIVER THIRTY FOUR FEET HIGH AT MAITLAND.

EEPORTED LOSS OF SEVERAL

LIVES

FEARFUL DESTETTCTION OF

PEOPERTY.

ONE THOUSAND HEAD OF

SHEEP DROWNED

SINGLETON SUBMEKG-ED

HUNDEEDS OF FAMILIES

FLOODED OUT.

[Fbom the " Sydney. Empibe's " Special

Repobteb.]

NEWCASTLE, April 25. Suddenly and unexpectedly I am again called upon, in the exercise of my duty as your special representative in this district, to re cord the occurrence of a high and disastrous flood in the valley of the Hunter, extending this time from Hexham to Mugclebrook, and doing more damage above Maitland (if present reports turn out to be true), than any pre vious visitation. The fine -weather we had been enjoying for the past fortnight or three weeks broke on Thursday last, on the evening of which day the sky became heavily overcast with clouds ; and the nearness at hand of a decided chango was manifest to the most casual observer. On Friday morning it commenced to rain here, at Maitland, Single ton, and all up the line, continuing almost without intermission until yesterday (Satur day) night. In the district of Maitland and Morpetii, the downpour on Friday night and throughout Saturday was tremendous, the water literally descending in sheets rather than in separate drops. Several trustworthy warties, to whom I spoke on the subject, describe the thickness and impetuosity of the rain as exceeding anything they ever saw ; while others affirmed that it was just such another deluge as the one that preceded the great flood of 1867. One and all agree that the fall of wuter between Friday morning and Sunday morning was immense, but still scarcely anyone seems to have been prepared for a thirty-two feet rise in the river by Mon day morning. Great as the downpour un questionably iias in Maitland and the sur rounding district, it is certain that at Branx ton, Singleton, Glennie's Creek, Musclebrook, Scone, Murrurundi, &c, it must have been greater still, for no amount of local rain could have caused a river like the Hunter to rise so unprecedently quick and high as it has risen on this occasion.

The river commenced to rise in Maitland early on Saturday morning, and continued rising all the day, though not at such a rate as to give rise to any serijus apprehensions of another flood. By evening it had attained a height of about ten feet above the previous day's level, and was still rising. The next morning (Sunday), to the utter astonishment of every resident in town, it had risen to flood level, viz., some twenty-six or twenty-seven feet above low water level, as shown by the gauge at the Belmore bridge. The extreme suddenness of the rise took every one by sur prise, and it is fortunate that the residents of the Horseshoe Bend and other low lying lo calities had daylight for it, or otherwise a con siderable number of persons must of necessity have been drowned. I was assured on th« authority of several who had taken particular notice of the fact, that between ten o'clock on Saturday night and six o'clock on Sunday morning, the Hunter, at Maitland, rose no less than fifteen feet in perpendicular height— a rise, the rapidity of which I believe to be without parallel in the history of the district. The water continued to rise slowly through out Sunday night, and up to two o'clock to day (Monday), when it became stationary. At fifteen minutes past two o'clock the wash of the water as it rushed up against the piers of the Belmore bridge, went within two or three inches of the highest mark for 1869 ; and making due allowance for the " wash," was fully thirty-two feet six inches high—or, in other words, about six or eight inches higher than the great flood last month. The effect of all this can, in some respects, be better imagined than described j and it might almost suffice were I to stop here, refer my readers to the reports of the March inunda tion, and just say ditto, ditto, ditto. But as this might not suit some of readers, particu lai'ly those who are acquainted with the dis trict, and who will be anxious to learn all they can about this fresh visitation, I shall proceed to give a succinct account of what I saw and heard during my visit to East and West Maitland to-day; and in -order to make mj report more readable and intelligible, I shall divide it into a series of paragraphs, with separate Leadings, commencing with.

THE LOWER HUNTER, AT HEXHAM. Owing to the rapidity with which the water has come down the full effect of the flood has not yet been experienced at Heiham. Aj we passed along on the train to-day the river was not so high by two or three feet as it was a month ago, but by tomorrow (Tuesday) even ing it will probably be across the railway line, as.it was before. But although not so high here as it was last month, it was still high enough to inundate a good deal of land and several houses. Opposite to the station at Lower Heiham it overflowed the bank, and was fast submerging the Maitland-road, and the Wesleyan Chapel, and other buildings within a few yards of the public school. Several cottages were already flooded, them, mates thereof having left and gone up to the high ground, near the Mmmi coal shoots. To the left of the railway the swamps were all covered, and looking in the'direction of the Mmmi hills there was almost an unbroken sheet of water of several miles in extent. On the other side of the line thqre was still a good area of land free from wai;er, and from the green look of some of the lucerne paddocks it was evident that the plant had survived the previous inundation. Should these paddocks be again submerged, as they are almost certain to be, the plant will be killed outright, and the parties renting them will be plunged still deeper into a state of misery and destitution. At Weakley's swamp, further on, the water was evidently rising fast, and was within a few feet of the line, though it wanted a foot or more in height to bring it up to the rails. Traffic across this swamp is almost certain to be interrupted to-morrow, although I sincerely hope it may not be, as the inconvenience arising from the non-running of the trains between Newcastle and Maitland is very great, much greater than between any other two stations on the line. Considering the fre quency of these floods, it is a question whether the Government ought not to raise the line a little at this and a few other low spots; for it would surely be better to travel slow and sure than not at all, especially at these times, when the keeping open of the line is so requi site for the purpose of sending up boats and the transmission of the mail.

EAST MAITLAND, PITNACREE, &c.

When the train pulled up at the East Maitland platform, the extent of the flood, to persons acquainted with the district, was at onco apparent. To the left of the Morpeth branch line, so far as the eye could reach, was one lake-like expanse of water, broken only here and ther« by some few islands of high ground. Narrowgut was evidently completely submerged, the river having broken over in several places. On the Pitancree road there was a very strong stream running across; and all traffic between Dunmore and East Mait land had been suspended for several hours. The paddocks be>.weea the railway line and the river, from East to West Maitland were, as a matter of course, covered, the line being submerged at one spot to a depth of over two feet. The road leading to the station, and the main road near the mill were, as usual, flooded, but not to any great extent, the traffic being still open for vehicles or on horseback.

THE ROAD FROM EAST TO WEST MAITLAND.

From near the old Black Horse public house—a place any old resident of Maitland, or traveller in the Northern district will remember—to Dr. Scott's old house, the road between East and West Maitland was more or less covered with water the whole way, though not at so great a depth by about twelve inches as on the last day or two of the March flood. At the Victoria bridge the water rushing over the top of the flood gates with great velocity, and notwithstanding the circumstance of the carrying away of the gates last month, there was etill a difference of fully a foot in the height of the water inside and outside the gates, proving conclusively -what I affirmed in several of my previous reports, viz., that the masonry work alone kept back an immense body of water. The water being over the top of the whole structure, we were unable to see whether the gate which, resisted the current last time was still in its place or not j but I was informed by a resident of the neighbourhood that it was still there, and nearly closed —a fact which, if true, would be additional explanation of the comparatively small quantity of water that found its way on to the Lochend estate and Loutli Park. The numerous houses on either side of- the road from the bridge to the High-street railway station, were all flooded, more or less, the water in some instances rushing through them ■with great force, carrying everything move able before it. To the left of the road, as I have already intimated, the quantity of water out was not so large as the great height of the river would seem to warrant one in expecting, but still there was a large area submerged, and the back water was said to be rising rapidly. As a matter of course, scores of houses in the direction of Louth Park were inundated, though only to a limited depth.

THE TOWN OF WEST MAITLAND.

From the High-Btreefc railway station up to the Btores of the Messrs. Capper, a .distance of nearly half a mile, this main thoroughfare of the town was submerged, together with the whole of the branch streets running at right angles to it, embracing Abbott-street, Sparke street, Wades-lane, Devonshire-street, Albert street, and Victoria-street, all of which are densely populated. From the station up to the theatre the water was running in a regu lar stream through the bottom apartment of almost every house, the dismal aspect of which to the eye of a stranger can only be properly imagined by those who have been eye-witnesses of similar scenes. At the Go vernment embankment the river was higher than I have ever before seen it, running flush with the top of the level or pathway, on the top of which foot passengers walk, and the level of which is at least four feet above the roadway. .. The corporation men were busily engaged, under the direction of Mr. Darley, I imagine (for I saw him on the ground) in strengthening the embankment where it was weak, and raising it where it was too low, to prevent the overflow of the water. This structure, which cost the coun try so many thousands of pounds, is another proof of haw little is known by our Government engineers respecting the flood levels in the Hunter. This embankment was supposed by Mr. Moriarty, to be nearly three feet above the 1867 level—it has sunk a foil or go since it was built, and yet here in a uuod which at the time I apeak of, had not.

attained the '67 level by six inches, we hata the river more than level with the vert crown of the highest portion of the structure I /■ Verily, a flood commission was very much : / required! Let us hope the flood commis- ("' sioners will profit by the evidence they have 1 so recently taken. As I stood looking at this I embankment, which I cannot help thinking is in a rather unsafe condition, I thought what a fearful disaster there would occur were the raised pathway abovementioned to be carried away suddenly. That all the houses on the opposite side of the street would be swept bodily away there cannot b» a doubt; and yet the inmates of these houses were standing in their front rooms surveying the scene as calmly and coolly as though they were in no more danger than people living miles away. Just the same was* it when the two houses on the other side were washed away in 1864. The inmates were warned again and again of their denger; but the warnings were unheeded, and a melancholy loss of life was the result. From the embankment up wards High-street presented a strange appear- - ,' ance. Many of the shops were shut, and as a matter of course, business was oorrpletelv at' a standstill! There was the usual number of drays and vehicles of every description con veying the poor flooded-out people to the School of Arts and other public buildings. The civic authorities appear to be on the alert,' and at the various embankments throughout ■ the town, men were stationed to consolidate and strengthen them wherever the slightest sign of a breach was apparent. The newly organized water brigade had mustered in full force, and well manned boats might be seen in every direction, ready to start at a moment's notice on their errands of mercy and humanity. To give a more vivid idea of the state of High street at one o'clock on Monday, I have only to mention that boats were moored in front of the premises of the mayor (W. H. Smith, Esq.), at the Mercury office door, opposite the Volunteer Hotel, lately kept by Alderman Olliffe, and in front of tne stores of Mr. Coupland and the Messrs. Capper.

THE BELMORE BRIDGE.

Without stopping to comment on the ttatt of the other embankments, which were gene rally speaking considered safe. I pasa on to notice the pcene which presented1 itself to my view on Belmore Bridge. At the period of my visit to the bridge, there were not fewer than a. couple of hundred persons on it, watching with interest tha progress of the mighty flood of water towards the ocean. The current appeared to be running stronger than ever I remember to have seen it before, and every now and then as a large log would be borne swiftly against one of the massive piers, the whole structure would shake and quiver again. The youngsters .of the town had congregated in scores for the purpose of " fishing" with hooks for the pumpkins which kept constantly floating by all day long in countless numbers. If I said that some hundreds of thousands of pumpkins went down during Sunday and Monday. I really don't think I should be exaggerating, for the whole river on both sides, of the bridge wasl literally covered with them. But there was more valuable property than pumpkins coming down when I was on the bridge. During the half hour I was there, I counted no less than twelve sheep and five or six pigs—:all dead pass under the bridge, and I was crdibly in formed that fully 300 sheep and • fifty pigs must have gone by since about five o'clock in the morning. About nine o'clock a horse with saddle and bridle on went down, and it was said by some of the spectators on the bridge at the time that the horse was alive. A live heifer also went by, and when near the bend of the river, opposite to the Catholic Church, made a desperate, but unsuccessful attempt to reach the land. It seemed to bear up against the current for a second or two, when it was caught in an eddy, and was quickly out of sight. When I left the bridge at three o'clock, the guage showed a rise of 32 feet 4 inches.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

On making inquiry I was glad to learn that Hall's creek was holding good, and also the embankment at the Falls Hotel. If either of these were to go I am afraid there would be sad destruction of property, arid most likely' • loss of life as well. The back water, as seen "! from the Long Bridge appeared to be rising fast, but at that time 3 o'clock on Monday) was not more than half as high as on the occasion, of the late flood..

REPORTED LOSS OF LIFE.

On Sunday night, and again yesterday, it was very generally reported that a sad los» of life had occurred somewhere above Singleton. If rumour is to be believed, a whole family perished at Aberdeen by the. upsetting, of a boat. I hope it will turn out that the report is exaggerated. But if the account of loss of life at Aberdeen may be a fiction, the circum stance of the horse with bridle and saddle on going down the river, would seem to point to the fact that some unfortunate horseman had lost his life somewhere above Maitland. I hope and trust it may not be so ; but I am sadly afraid we shall yet hear of more than one fatal accident.

REPORTED LOSS OF 1000 SHEEP.

Besides the above report of the loss of human life at Aberdeen, there, was another rumour afloat, to the effect that Mr. Rodd, of Singleton, had lost 1000 head of sheep ; and, considering the great number of dead sheep that have been observed to pass down the river, there can be little doubt of the substan tial accuracy of the report. The Circuit Court, which was holding its sittings at East Maitland, adjourned till to morrow (Tuesday) in consequence of the flood, and the inability of some of the witnesses to attend the Court.

April 26, 10 a.m. MORE BAD NEWS FROM MAITLAND. —SEVERAL HOUSES WASHED AWAY.

By electric telegraph I have just learnt that the river at Maitland rose nearly two feet during the night, and is now 'thirteen inches above the highest level it everikttained in 1857 or 1867. The water has f broken over at the Falls and several other places. At the Falls, a part of the Court-house, and a private house occupied by a person named Whey, have been swept away, and great fears are entertained for the safety of the Northumberland Hotel? the small bridge in front of which has given way to the force of the current, which is rushing past this spot with terrific Telocity. One end of the

THE EVENING STAK, MAY 3, 1870.



NOTICE TO PASSENGERS PER 'CITY OF MELBOURNE.' /-Wjl npHE Steamer will leave the Queen-street Wharf TO-MOR ROW (Wednesday) at 11 and 1 o'clock, conveying Passengers and their Luggage on board the 'City of Melbourne.' CRinOZSHANK, SMART & CO., Agents. NOTICE TO PASSENGERS PER ' HERO.' ,~V^jk^ rpHE steamer Will leave the Queon-street Wharf TO-MOH KOW (Wednesday), at 2 o'clock, carrying Passengeis and Tjuggage on board. CUUIGKSHAjSfK, SMART & CO., Agents. May 3, 187). TO PASSENGERS ON BOARD THE «,CITr OF MELBOURNE.' THE ONLY PLACE you cm PROCURE Greenstone or Quartz Jewellery is at F. H. LEWISSON'S, Cornw of Qunn-itreet and Vulcan Lane. WANTED,— A. Thorough G-ARDENEIJ. —Apply Waitemata Hot iL