AN AFFLICTED CITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1718, 8 April 1913, Page 2

AN AFFLICTED CITY.

Siglis of relief went up from every household towards tho end of last week, beciuso the gas workers, having been granted Uio "extra bob a day" they were striking for, went back to work, 'and tho Riis supply, though meagre, was still, tv supply, and always improving, writes a correspondent in tho "Australasian." No moro billy-boiling in tho back yard, peering about with candles, mfcssing around with and sooty lamp-wicks, coming homo in nrlm dark, and going supperless to bed. No sooner had prayers of thankfulness been given for this than a worse calamity came in the shape of Saturday's terrific storm. Over Tin. of rain fell in Sydney, the streets ran regular rivers, swamps and lakes were everywhere. the waters of itlie harbour wero lashed into high waves, tho boats to Manly after 7 on Saturday were not nblo to run, telephone wires wero blown down through the violence of tho galo, ithe tram rails wero buried beneath mud and stones, and peoplo were obliged to walk homo in the teeth of tho wind and through the blinding rain. It was cold, too'-icy cold. The raging winds and torrents of rain in tho afternoon upset all sports and racing, fixtures, except a foolhardy yachting raco in the harbour between, "the Sayoiiara and Thelnia, which resulted in the loss by drowning of Mr. Walter K. Moore, of the Thelma, and tho .submersion for hours of that yacht's whole crow, including the owner. And in tho evening, when Iho storm was angriest, the theatre-goers had a dreadful time endeavouring to reach their homes. Trams wero held up everywhere, and splashing nlong against tho fury of the/ elements proved a miserable way of finishing up tho evening. Houses wero unroofed in all (lie suburbs, Cuogee and Manly suffering tho greatest damage. Scarcely a house in Manly escaped. In some of the country towns, and in Ihe moro distant and low-lying suburbs of Sydney, tho damage done was pitiful. A man at Clifton was wakened by a beam lift, long, which crashed in'through the roof and landed its one end oil the liendrail of his bed, its other end on the foatrail, a marvellous rscape for him. lying Ijcnenlh. On Sunday, when (ho havoc could bo summed up, the day was gloriously clear and bright, niul yniiling. H'.iin_'li:is been sadly needed for months, but it frightened everyone when it (lid come. ,