SERIOUS FLOODS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 9, 5 October 1927, Page 11

SERIOUS FLOODS

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN VICTORIA HEAVY LOSSES OF STOCK Br Telegraph.—Press association. (Copyright.) Melbourne, October 4, The floods in Gippsland are spreading. The Latrobe River, which is normally a chain wide, is now three miles across. All residents of the district have removed to high ground. The losses of stock are V eav *ly increasing. In some places the floods in Yarra Valley and Gippsland are receding. In others there are fears of serious damage. Many reports have been received of narrow escapes from death. At Heyfield a youth was drowned while rounding up some horses. Serious losses are expected among stock and sheep, which were only recently rescued from the drought-stricken country at Yallourn. The old State coal mine is flooded, and operations have ceased. The Yarra, Latrobe, and Macalister Rivers are rising rapidly. At Traralgon the country is covered to a depth of four feet. Many bridges have been washed away, and in the timber country tram lihes have been destroyed. BACKWARD SEASON IN NEW SOUTH WALES FRUIT CROPS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED Sydney, October 4. The season continues very backward and the persistently cold weather is retarding growth. The recent frosts and lieavv falls of snow along the Murray Valley have done immense damage to the' wine-growing and fruit areas both in New South Wales and Victoria, including large blocks of soldier settlements. The first estimate was that from 50 to 90 per cent, of the vine crops had been destroyed. A later estimate by the Irrigation Commission holds out hope that a lot of vines and tree fruits, at first thought to have been destroyed, can be revived bv extra irrigations, which it has been decided to give them. At the best, however, the wine and dried fruit output will be seriously affected. SNOW IN SYDNEY (Rec. October 4, 10.10 p.m.) Sydney, October 4. The weather continues bitterly cold. There was a slight fall of snow in the heart of the city in the afternoon.. The temperatures are the lowest experienced in October for eighteen years. STORM IN BONIN ISLANDS Tokio, October 3. Cables from the Bonin Islands report a devastating storm. Over a hundred houses were wrecked and the sugar crops badly damaged. The casualties were few.