AUSTRALIAN FLOODS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN FLOODS

EXTE NSIV Ii DA AIA G E (Australian it N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, Feb. 19. With continuous copious rains over the great part of the Commonwealth, Howls and consequent damage to crops and property are reported in all directions. and several lives arc reported lost • At Grafton the Clarence River invaded the town. The water is eighteen Holies deep in parts of the main street, and in lower portions of the town it is still deeper. .Residents spent a feverish night removing goods belonging to business places and houses. Water brigades busily engaged watching the rising of the waters, bad to remove marooned inhabitants from some of the houses along the river valley. Large areas of. crops and much stock have been destroyed, many residents Ixiing driven from their homes. r lbe electric supply is threatened and the town wijl probably be plunged in darkness. Tbe river last night bad slightly receded, but as further rain lias fallen and much Hood water lias still to come down from tbe upper readies, worse conditions are expected. The river is a mile wide at Grafton, ami the wharves are submerged. Over a hundred families along the valley were driven from their homes. At Murwilluiiibali many people bad to evacuate their homes. An unconfirmed report states that besides Constable Alpin. two other men were drowned. Another Ilian named Barnes was drowned. Fanners on the Islam! nl lorbes report that a man named Stephenson, while attempting to swim the Hooded Mnequarrie River, lost his lite. Passengers by express train which left Melbourne on Thursday reached Sydney last night. They were marooned at Cootamnndra owing to the line waslmwnys. Numerous wnsliaways and the consequent dislocation of traffic have occurred and road traffic is generally at a standstill in the Ardlctlian district. The township of Reckon is completely inundated and the inhabitants are marooned, the only partially dry place being a hotel which is a twostorevod building, where the residents are e.towdcd, camped on tables and other points of vantage. At Ardlotlvau similar conditions, prevail. Big Hoods are swelling- down the Hunter, Patterson and Williams rivers valleys, causing widespread ruin. Newcastle is preparing to meet the flood when the waters reach the town. The Hawkeshury river overflowed miles of rich flats in the valley, devastating big stretches of corn and vegetables, and a number of ’ residents were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge. The outlook generally is very ominous. More rain, which at present lias temporarily ceased, is promised. QUEENSLAND RIVERS FLOODED. BRISBANE. Fob. 19. Unceasing heavy rain over the Bi isbane River basin caused a rapid rise of tbe water in the upper reaches. Fearing floods when this water arrives in the already swollen lower reaches, all vessels have been ordered to leave the city wharves by midnight. Other rivers are also Hooding extensively.