CYCLONIC STORM

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 March 1937, Page 7

CYCLONIC STORM

TWO LIVES LOST N.S.W. FLOOD DANGER [RY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. March 17, 1 p.m.). SYDNEY, March 17. Two lives have been lost in the cyclonic storm which has lashed the eastern half of New South Wales in the past two days. z One man was electrocuted, when he became entangled in a live wire which had blown down. Another man was drowned when he was swept from his horse, while attempting to cross a flooded creek. A landslide on the Moss ValeUnanderra branch line has blocked rail traffic between the South Coast and the Southern Tablelands. The flood danger on the Clarence River has become acute. Hundreds of cattle, have been drowned. The Glenfield Military Camp was washed out overnight. The wind levelled every tent. Parts of the Sydney catchment area have registered six inches of rain for 24 hours. Several northern coastal towns are already isolated. . > The roads iare under water. ’ ' " ‘ \ FATE OF HAIPING. BRISBANE, March 16. There is no sign of the Haiping, and it is believed that she has sunk, with 110 bags of mails for New Guinea. FLOODS IN ENGLAND FEN COUNTRY MENACED (Recd. March 17, 1.45 p.m.). RUGBY, March 16. Precautions are being taken against the danger of extensive flooding in the Fen district. Heavy rains in the past few days have imposed a great strain on the banks of many small rivers in this area, which constitutes probably the most valuable agricultural land in England. Throughout last nighty hundreds of watchers patrolled the banks, but although the water is over- the tops in many places, there so far have been no bursts. Where signs of weakness appeared, tugs and barges loaded with clay were hurried to provide reinforcements. It is estimated that the crisis will occur within the next 24 hours, but reports this morning state that the' position is slightly improved, and that the water is two inches lower. No appreciable rain has fallen in the last 24 hours, and after to-day, the tide should tend to decrease. In the Thames Valley, the water rose several inches. Many roads in the Eton and Windsor districts are closed to traffic by floods, for the fourth time this year. In Scotland, Ireland, and Northern England, the road conditions since last week’s heavy snowfall are steadily improving.