GALE ABATED

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 67, 13 December 1920, Page 5

GALE ABATED

MORE HEAVY RAIN IN NEW SOUTH WALES GLOOMY REPORTS FROM WHEAT AREAS Br Tole*rM>h..Pr«si Aisoclatlon-OoDyrlfM ffiec. December 12, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, December 11. Though the gale has passed, incessant but lighter rain continues. All snorts have been abandoned. Everywhere in the, rain-swept area the rivers are in flood, and much country is under water. There are many railway washawaya, and truffio is dislocated. Until \he weather clears it will be impossible to assess the damage to tho wheat crops, but it is very serious, and possibly the loss will run into millions. Excepting in Southern Rivenna, which up to the present has not suffered extensively, practically the whole of tho wheat area has been swept. The south-west, central, and north-west districts are the most affect.ed. Almost everywhere tho crops were tall and' heavy.and most promising, consequently tho rain and wind have wrought greater havoc than if they had been lighter. Many thousands of awes havo been flattened badly and damaged. If the rain continues these crops will be completely spoiled.

A Brisbane message states that torren. tial rainfalls have been recorded in. the the Marlborough district.—Press Assn.

Sydney, Decornber 12. Heavy rain fell throughout the nightl and is still falling, without the slightest indication of it ceasing. Besides tho losses to crops thero is serious damage to house property and business stocks owing to leaky roofs and invading floodwaibrs. Tho sea ia moderating, and shipping is resuming. Incoming vessels report a rough time battling through the heavy seas. Numbers of country oentres report floods and rivers rising, with water from the high reaches still to come down. Tho outlook is disquieting along Hunter. _ Around Newcastle and Maitland miles of farm lands are inundated. _ Tho latest news from the wheat areas is gloomy.—Press Assn.

STEAMER TIMARI) WRECKED CREW UNDERSTOOD TO BE SAFE. (Rec. December 18, 1,10 a.m.! Sydney, December 12. A number of vessels which were standing off the port owing to the rpugh seas have now eutered the harbour. All report receiving a bad buffeting in the storm. The only shipping mishap recorded was to the small steamer Tiniaru, formerly a New Zoaland collier, which was wrecked at Jefvts Bay, en route from Hobart to Sydney. It is understood that the crow is Bafe.

■' With the exception of a short spell during tho afternoon, heavy driving rain fell all day, and again was in full blast to-night. The storm damage in the metropolitan area is'not serious, being chiefly in the form of leakages and overflows. News from • the country is meagre, but the latest is more cheerful. Tho indications are for the rain clearing. The rivers are subsiding. ■<Sie worst apparently has been passed at Newcastle, where tho river is falling. The people are returning to their homes. —Press Assn.