SERIOUS FLOODS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1753, 19 May 1913, Page 5

SERIOUS FLOODS.

IN NEW SOUTH WALES,

SETTLERS' SENSATIONAL ESCAPES. RAILWAY TRAFFIC DISLOCATED. By Telegraph—Prees Association— Copyright Sydney, May 17. Tho sea is now abating.. The steamer Wimmera had a rough trip. All other vessels arriving report having had a tempestuous time. Many vessels aro barbound. Railway traffic in tho Northern River districts is badly dislocated through wushawa'ys caused by the lloods, and communication beyond Singleton is cut off. The Brisbane express is still held up. There are breaks in various other places, which will, probably not bo restored before Monday or Tuesday next. Though tho water is now falling, the whole of the low-lying lands along tho Hunter River 1 Valley are deeply flooded. Tho losses of crops and stock and damage ■to property generally is very heavy. Tho water invaded the streets, and many of the houses in Singleton and Maitland, in some of the houses to a depth of three' feet. The people, warned by firebells, removed their goods and fled to ' safoty in hotels and public buildings. All vehicular traffic is suspended, and business is at a standstill. Boats are piled high up tho streets of i Maitland. Settlers in outside districts were rescued by boats. Several cases of drowning havo been reported, and many narrow sensational cscapes. It is reported that tho country is strewn with articles washed from houses, and vegetables, dead animals, and debris of all kinds. Several houses collapsed, and were washed bodily away at Bulahdelah. Thero is six feet of water in tho main street. Residents were rescued by boats. Maswellbrook, Gloucester, Dungog, and many other towns suffered severely, and tho residents ore heavy losers. The devastation on farms has been general. Mail communication has been suspended. Somo of tho residents of the. Hunter Rivei; Valley were rescued from the roofs of houses and other perilous positions after spending hours in the storn;. The Manning Paver is in high flood. There has been mucli damage and loss. (Rec. May 19, 0.25 a.m.) Sydney, May 18. Tho railway traffic in tho flocded districts is still interrupted. RIVERS SUBSIDING. LOSSES AS BIG AS IN 1693. (Rec. May 17, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, May 17. The floods in the northern rivers aro steadily subsiding. Hundreds of pcoplo who were driven from their homes, aro returning. It is estimated that tho losses will bo serious, as in tho big flood of 1893. Many farmers liavo lost tho whole of their winter crops. A MAN DROWNED. Sydney, May 17. A man named Slack was washed out of > buggy at Kelso, and drowned. It is believed that a companion with him was also drowned.