Sydney's Gas Supply Further Threatened

Chronicle (Levin), 18 June 1949, Page 5

Sydney's Gas Supply Further Threatened

Received Fridav. 7.35 p.m. SYDNEY, June 17. The heavv rains which have not ye ?eased have been follovved by sever fioods in the rural and mining area near Rydney. The eoal tovrnships rt port serious fiaoding which has immol. ilised 2S New South Wales mines. At Cessnock, where parts of the towi are five feet under yhter, eight mei who had taken the pit pbnies below i; 'Tendiness 'for tlie work wer trapped in the Aberdare Extendc mine. Rescue parties ^ot them out, bu twp were taken to hospital. Svdnev already under gas rationinis now threatened with a eomplete ga blaekout as severe coastal storms havforced colliers back to port. The Join Coal Board is drawing up drastic plan for rationing to conserve the dwindlin supplies of coal. The main gas com panv supplies will be down to 800 ton tomorrow morning. The Italian Liberfy ship Orion which was driven ashore off Kurrab Point in Rydney Harbour early toda was refioated with the aid of tugs thi afternoon. It is believed that the dani age is slight. As she dragged he anchors and grounded she cut a cornc off the oil wharf with her bow. Gales blew several pleasure cral ashore in the middle harbour and de: troyed n.any tents ih camping areas. The township of Camden is cut oi by flood waters from the Nepean Rive and some rai] services have been sus pended. The main highway betweei. Rydney and Melbourne is under wate for 400 yards* at Camden bridge. Th Hawkeshurv River is also fiooding an the water is still rising.