HEAVY DAMAGE

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 155, 27 March 1926, Page 9

HEAVY DAMAGE

NEW SOUTH WALES FLOODS MANY NARROW ESCAPES TRAIN SERVICE DISLOCATED By Telegraph.—Press Association. CoPYP.IGHt. Sydney, March 26. The Macquarie River has risen 35ft. to the 50ft. level. The Bell River has risen to the 32ft. level. Wellington is experiencing the greatest flood on record. The past nine days’ rain aggregated 14| inches, and water in places is from 18 inches to 2ft. deep. People are keeping water away from the main business portion of the town by building barricades of wood and sandbags.

There were many exciting and narrow escapes on tile Bell River flats. People were taken from their homes in boats. Chinamen were persuaded with difficulty to leave their houses, some being taken from the, roofs. The water at the junction of the Macquarie and Bell Rivers is over a mile wide. Many valuable imported stud animals are in danger. No fatalities are reported, but there have been heavv losses of cattle and other stock.

The latest report from Dubbo states that the Macquarie is still rising fast, and has broken its banks in several places. The Cudegong River at Mudgee is falling, and it is thought the worst of the flood is past. Growers in the Bathurst district have suffered many thousands of pounds worth of damage to their crops, chiefly tomatoes and vegetables. The low-lying areas are under water, and the train service to die western part of . the State is dislocated owing to washaways. The meteorologist states that the centre of the disturbance is about 150 miles east of Newcastle, and now moving in a south-easterly direction at a rate of 400 to 500 miles a day. A few vessels ventured to sea yesterday, but the coastal vessels outside sought shelter. In the city and suburbs fences and trees were blown down and some buildings unroofed—Press Assn. RAIN WANTED

(Rec. March 26, 11.30 p.m.) Sydney, March 26. The rain has now abated. The town of Coonamble is under water, but only the low-lying parts are affected, and the damage there is not serious. Other centres report that flood waters, are entering the houses, but the lull in the rain has averted the serious consequences first anticipated. All towns are now safe unless there are further heavy falls of rain, which are unlikely. The damage so far reported is heavy, although not so bad as hitherto feared. —Press Assn.

JUMP IN SHEEP PRICES (Rec. March 26, 7 p.m.) Sydney, March 26. The breaking of the drought in the pastoral areas was reflected to-day at the Homebush sheep sales, where supplies, which were very heavy during the drought period, fell below requirements. Prices jumped ss. to 10s. per head.—Press Assn.