ROUGH WEATHER

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1926, Page 7

ROUGH WEATHER

SERIOUS FLOODS IN N.S. WALES

POLICE TO THE RESCUE

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (By Cable —Press Assn. —Copyright.)

SYDNEY, Dec. 29.

Torrential rains benefited the whole State, but caused heavy floods in many parts of the town of Cessnock and suburbs. Newcastle suffered severely and scores of people were rendered homeless. There were many thrilling rescues. Rain falling without cessation for forty-eight hours, submerged all the low-ilying parts of Newcastle and district, causing damage estimated at. many thousand sterling. Belmont, a holiday resort on Lake MacQuarrie, is cut off from Newcastle, both by rail and by road, owing to sections of the line and road submerging. So rapidly did the flood waters rise that the safety of the inhabitants was jeopardised. As the local municipal authorities had made no provision for rescue work in the event of floods, the work had to be taken over by the Newcastle police. The water police manned skiffs, and rowing up and down the flooded streets, rescued householders. As the rain continues, it is anticipated that the position will become more acute.

Reports from all parts of the country state communications ar.e greatly interrupted, many washaways on railways disorganising the traffic. Cessnock was flooded without warning, the waters rising so rapidly that the residents barely had time to escape from the submerged homes. In one ease- the police had to swim a hundred yards to rescue a family whom tliey pulled into boats by ropes. Many miners with their families enin the garden suburb of North Stockton for the holidays, had to evacuate. Tents were torn down by the cyclone which accompanied the floods.

So far only one fatality is reported. An old man living in a tent at the foot of Liverpool Range near Murrindi, was drowned, in attempting to cross a flooded gully. Further floods and li’eavy gales are expected, and flood warnings have been issued in all parts of the country.

COLD IN EUROPE.

LONDON, Dec. 27

Severe cold is reported* on the Continent. Heavy snowfalls have been oxperienced throughout Spain also in Paris where the fountains were converted into masses of ice. Many rivers are frozen over.

DAMAGE AT AUCKLAND.

(Special to "Star ’’)

AUCKLAND, December 29.

Considerable havoc was caused in ITuia D'alley, by the severe storm on Saturday and Sunday, and the preliminary works carried out by the City Council in preparation for the construction of the Huia Dam, and the pipeline, suffered a great deal of damage. The City Engineer, who paid a visit of inspection to the area, said it appeared that the very worst of the storm was centred over the Huia Valley, and it must have been of extraordinary proportions. In four days the rainfall in. the valley was 14.12 in., and of this 10£in. fell in the eighteen hours ending Sunday morning. There p\ere numerous slips, and much of the 'track built to provide access to the new works was carried away, or buried in the lower, valley. The flood was so tremendous that a huge log was deposited on the new tram track, and there were no fewer than twenty-two slips along this section of the tramway. The men engaged on the construction of the new Huia Dam will start work again early in the New Year, and a pack horse track is now being made to enable provisions to be taken to the camp.