Swirling Floods

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 585, 11 February 1929, Page 9

Swirling Floods

DAMAGE AND DEATH IN N.S.W.

Hundreds of People Trapped

DEATH and great damage have been wrought by floods in New South Wales. Hundreds of people were trapped by fast-rising water, and some on lonely farms had to be rescued by the police. (United P.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright)

Reed. 10.10 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. Torrential rains on the north coast have caused heavy floods over the week-end in the Manning, MacLeay, Nambucca and Bellinger Rivers. The two first-named overflowed their banks and caused enormous damage to farm lands and maize crops. The water rose so rapidly that in some towns hundreds of people were trapped, and some on isolated farms had to be rescued by the police. Two men were drowned at Gloucester in attempting to rescue other people when they were swept away. The railway services to Gloucester have been completely disorganised. Practically every shop and office in

Gloucester is inundated. The damage is estimated at £40,000. Great damage was done to roads in the Newcastle district. It is estimated that £IOO,OOO will be required to restore them to their former condition. The bad state of the roads was responsible for a fatal accident to John Parsons, aged 20, who was killed when a lorry overturned at Cook’s Hill. Four others were injured. The Hunter River is rising rapidly, and there is a possibility of floods in Newcastle. Many farms in the Taree district are covered to a depth of 12 feet. The forecast is for more rain and heavy falls aggravating the flood conditions.