STORM IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1920, Page 5

STORM IN NEW SOUTH WALES

FLOODS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. HEAVY DAMAGE TO CROPS* By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Sydney, Dec. 10. The gale with torrential rajn which lasted throughout the night continues unabated. Some of the low-lying suburbs are flooded. Country reports state that the rivers arc rising, and there is considerable Hooding. The suburbs of Newcastle are under water, and numbers of families are marooned. There is widespread damage to fruit crops. The full extent of tho damaga done to the wheat cannot be estimated. In some districts it is very .serious. Floods have also been experienced in the south ciy,st district, Eeceived Dee. iO, 10.50 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 10. The storm continues with increaeed fury, the centre of cyclonic disturbance being nearer Sydney. All the ferry traffic crossing the entrance of the heads was stopped at 2.30, as i'he sea was raging worse than ever. .The atovm, with highly dangerous seas, extends from Newcastle to Moruya. The rainfall for Sydney to date is the highest recorded for December for sixtytwo years. All train traffic is delayed, and in many eases the trolley poles of trams have been blown off tho overhead wires. Heavy damage to crops is reported from the country. Tho gale at its height struck Newcastle this morning, the wind reaching a velocity of eighty miles per hour.' Over sixty families were rescued in the low lying districts by the police in boats. Shipping in the harbor experienced a perilous time, almost every vessel breaking its moorings and drifting till tugs made them fast. It is expected the gale all along the coast will subside to-night.