THREE FLOODS IN THREE WEEKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1921, Page 3

THREE FLOODS IN THREE WEEKS.

CYCLONIC STORMS IN -VS. WALES. ‘ SYDNEY, July 26 During the past three weeks New South Wales has suffered an extraordinary series ol cyclonic storms. These storms have in each case centred oil' the coast of Northern New South Wales, and the whole of the northern districts have been swept by phenomenal rain. The whole country has been affected, as lai back as the Darling. 'These rain storms have a most curious effect. The second one. for instance, a vurred some ten days ago. ll lasted nnlv two or three days, and was immediately succeeded by blue skies and bright, warm sunshine. It took two u. three days for the waters to drain into the rivers, so that the floods began to get dangerous some-time after the rani had passed. A week ago, in the west, farmers were frantically preparing against the floods, while the sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky. The 1 move very slowly down the great rivers, and by the free use of the telegraph system, people living near the great rivers know exactly wluit they are going to get in the way of Hood waters three or four days before the head ot the flood waters reaches them. There is now a remarkable race going on in the Darling. The huge volume of water from the second flood lifted the Darling far above what is called “critical" level. However, everyone bad plentv of warning, and, although wide areas on both sides were inundated. no great damage was done. The tail of this flood passed down below Burke some three days ago. Now comes the new flood, which is the worst yet. According to telegraphic advices this morning, the head waters of this Hood are now pouring >u‘ 11: • Darling, ami it is going to he a record. Matters will net he so bad gets. a clear tun down the Darling. But the experts, it appears, greatly tear that, the rushing head waters of the last flood will ' catch the tail of the second flood, which is only throe days away. 11l that event, thi' mass of witter which will spread over the country may cans? a great disaster. .Meanwhile, the towns on the Nortlie: n Rivers are- in trouble. It should ho explained, of course, ihat the Darling rises in Northern New South Wales and flows a wav south, along the hack of New South Whiles, into I' e Murray and South Australia. Bui the North-ern-Rivers — Richmond, ( hirenve. Machay, Maiming, and 11 miter—-also rise in the same tegiou, and !h>v cist into the sea. Tbcv How much more quickly than the Darling, and the people in these rich northern districts finds Hoods upon them almost without winning. That is wlml Has happened during ; i,. j, : | |ru days. I lie phenomenal min inland brought Hoods down the ruers with unprecedented rapidity, and s ome oi the towns were trapped. That happened at Lismore for instance. Th. Richmond rose 3< feet in a lew hours, and was all through Lismore before anyone realised what had happened. The j topic had a wild time j oil Saturday afternoon, trying to get on to higher ground. The District Court was sitting, and when the people | went to leave the Courthouse they found themselves on an island. Latei on, the judge was rescued by a boat, and taken to the upper storey ot a , hotel, but all the others remained the ni gli L in the courthouse, getting tood from a house next door. By the 10l- , lowing morning the waters had fallen, and they were able to get away. The town of Miirwilliimhali had a . terrifying experience on ]• riduy night. There had been heavy rains all dnv, hut nothing untoward was expected. About midnight on Friday, however, the people suddenly found that “ a wall of water” bail come down the river on to the town. The business section was immediately inundated, and the water rose quickly into the residential portions, where in places it was tom Fei t deep. There were scenes ot wild coyfusion. The lighting system failed in places, but fortunately it was moonlight. While the people were making a scramble—most ol them in night attire—for higher ground many worried shopkeepers tried to get into the business streets to rescue their goods. A number of boats were produced, which made transit easier. But the shopkeepers had a discouraging time. Goods which had not already been reached by the flood they piled on counters and on high shelves, but the flood kept on rising, and great damage was done. There were two dentils in Murwillumhah that night. A mother and child, ' trapped by the flood, were trying to reach a place of safety. A sudden whirl of water swept both off their feet. The child was carried away .front the mother’s reach, and perished, hilt the j woman, although half-drowned, manng- ' 0(1 to reach safety. A middle-aged man. a cane chair repairer, was trapped by the waters, and was drowned when trying to swim to higher ground. Hundreds ol families took refuge on their roofs, where they remained for i hours, suffering from cold and oxpost ic. ( When dawn came, at 0 a.m, it shown! n scene of great desolation. Half the I town was under water, only the tools | showing, and, on almost every root,' shivering, half-dead people clustered | waiting for rescue. Only u few boats were at work, and scores were wanted. A well-known medical man. Dr MiICvov, saved his life by swimm'r.g from his house four hundred yards to higher ground. Soon alter daybreak the rain stopped, and the waters l eel as rapidly ns they hud risen. All business in the town is at present suspended while the worst effects of the Hood are being removed. The loss in the town is estimated at £50,000, while the damage in the surrounding country is placed at £IOO,OOO- - tales are coming through from a score of tow ns, with which communication is more or less interrupted. The total death-roll is at least five- two in Murwillumbah and the others representing farming people who were out : trsing to rescue their slock. The town 1 of Grafton was warned, a few hours before, of the coining flood and preparations were made hut the waters rose so high and swiftly that great damage | was done in the business quarter, and ' seres of families had to take refuge oil their roofs. Information coming in .from all the country districts affected show that, fol-