STORM ABATES

Evening Star, Issue 25770, 17 April 1946, Page 7

STORM ABATES

TEN INCHES OF RAIN IN SYDNEY OIL TANKER IN DISTRESS (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 16. A cyclonic storm, which since Sunday has caused falls of lOin of rain in the Sydney area, eased considerably last night; To-day only light falls are expected and the wind has moderated. At its height the gale caused a 15hour suspension of the Manly ferry service after vessels had been damaged and four passengers injured. Tents and makeshift accommodation in North Sydney suburbs suffered badly through floods and wind. The Minister of Labour, Mr Hamilton Knight, has issued instructions to officials to take over public halls if necessary and to issue blankets, clothing, and money to campers in distress. Flood waters swamped parks and reserves in lowlying parts of Sydney. Cook's River rose to its highest in three years. The American tanker, Whittier Hills, bound for Sydney is drifting in heavy seas 1,300 miles east of the Brisbane River entrance. The vessel which is of 10,000 tons is helpless because _of boiler trouble and is fully loaded with oil. With both sea anchors out she was drifting north at four knots when contact by radio was last made. The only available ocean-going tug on the Australian coast left Sydney late yesterday, but herself suffered engine trouble and returned to port. The tanker is not yet in serious danger as she is 300 miles off the coast with plenty of sea room.