AUSTRALIAN FLOODS

Evening Star, Issue 19795, 20 February 1928, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN FLOODS

SERIOUSNESS INCREASING RAIN STILL FALLING SETTLERS IN DANGER. SYDNEY, February 20. (Received February 20, at 10.25 a.in.) The latest reports indicate that the seriousness of the Hoods, both north and south, has been increased by incessant heavy storms in the Riverina district making the work of repairing the railway lines increasingly difficult. Washaways had been repaired, but within a lew hours of being mended the line was again broken. Stockowners in tho Murray Valley are preparing for more serious Hoods.

At Grafton tho river is again rising. Torrential rain is still falling, and iurther Hooding now seems inevitable. At Ulmarra the Clarence River broke its banks and Hooded the country lor miles. A largo area of farm lands, including areas under cane and maize, were submerged. Flood boats have arranged to leave Ulmarra at daybreak to pick up settlers whose lives 'ire threatened by the oncoming waters*, ft is stated that twelve families are m danger. The Richmond River is in high Hood in the Kyogle district. A fall of loin of rain caused a rise of 501 t. Ilia water entered the western portion of tho town, which is isolated. Many houses are submerged. The police warned residents before the Hood reached its maximum of COft; then it commenced to recede.

Tho telegraph linos are down at Kyogle, and it is difficult to obtain news from centres up river. It is still raining. A message received from Junee reports that the weather is fine and that the waters are falling. Orange experienced one of the biggest Hoods in its history. Lower parts of tho town were Hooded to a depth of 4ft. Reports from Kyogle state that a man and his wife named Smith wore drowned in G racy’s Creek. At Oakley Park an elderly man named John Brennan was also drowned. POSITION IN VICTORIA MELBOURNE, February 20. (Received Febmary 20, at 10.35 a.in.) Heavy rain continues to fall in many parts of the State. No serious damage is reported. The rivers, however, continue to rise. Should the rains continue there is a danger of serious Hood ing. All the low-lying areas near Rnthcrglen are submerged, the water being 2ft deep.