GALE HITS SYDNEY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28825, 20 February 1959, Page 11

GALE HITS SYDNEY

Flood Threat Eases (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 11.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 19. The flood danger along 1000 miles of the‘Australian; east coast and throughout New South Wales eased as the heavy rain front from the Queensland cyclone moved out to sea east of Wollongong, on the south coast, today. But as the tail of the cyclone moved from the coast a southerlv gale and heavy rain struck Sydney. Buildings were unroofed. trees stripped of leaves and fences flattened.

The Weather Bureau said the weather was expected to dear over Sydney tonight. At Botany, a Sydney suburb, the gale blew down a newlyerected 24 foot by 120 foot wall, scattering 26.000 bricks. No-one was injured. , Threatened flooding in lowlymg Milperra, west of Sydney, was averted early today when the George river level began to fall. The most serious flooding in New South Wales In the last 48 hours has been at the town of South Grafton, on the Clarence river, where four feet of water poured into 52 houses early today. The river level was falling slowty later. -

A Special train ran over the' Clarence river viaduct today to bring workers to their jobs and carry food and clothing to the evacuated families. Flood 'danger at Kyogie, near the Queensland border, and Lismore and Casino, in northern New South Wales, was also passing today, and no further danger was expected unless there was a renewal of heavy rain.

Mr Molotov At Work. Mr V. M. Molotov, denounced at the recent Soviet Communist Congress as a member of “the contemptible anti-party group.” was back at his post in Ulan Bator “and working hard” as Soviet Ambassador to Outer Mongolia, diplomatic sources said, according to the American Associated Press.—Moscow, February 18.