TOWNS UNDER WATER

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1928, Page 5

TOWNS UNDER WATER

RESIDENTS FLEE To High Country MANY FATALITIES REPORTED. SYDNEY, February 21. At an eariy hour this morning fire broke out at Kempsey, in the Federal Stores. Owing to the flood in th. si/reets, the fire engine was unable to reach the blaze. J. Anderson and bis wife who live above the stores, were awakened by stones being thrown on the roof. They barely escaped. Several other buildings were threatened. Anderson’s damage is estimated at ten thousand sterling. At Kempsey ,the McLeay river is up 19 feet, and the worst flood for many years is feared. At Belhook, further up, it is thirty-five feet, and all residents fled to the higher country In many pans of central Kempsey, the water is five feet deep in the streets, and still rising. Many shops, with the contents, are ruined. The town of Nyngan is nearly under water, and the position is serious.

Many people have been without food for two or three days* and no relief can be given. Flood conditions are responsible for a swift rise in the price of sheep and cattle at Homebush Saleyards. The Sydney sheep market rose ten shillings a head and cattle are up £2/10/a head. The Chairman of the Meat Board says that prices wil continue to rise till the roads are in fit condition to permit stock to be brought to the railheads.

Reports from the south indicate that the water is receding in most parts, and the railway services have been restord on all the main lines.

The position in the north is still serious, owing to the amount of water vet to come down the rivers.

Heavy rain is still falling in the city but the Meteorologist forecasts a return of fine weather.

Restoration of the means of communication is bringing forth stories of ruin, devastation, heroism and thrilling escapes from the swirling flood waters and privations of isolated settlers. For several days the townhip of Ungarie was completely isolated. In one instance, a settler’s wife and three children spent two days and a night "on the rafters of their home before being rescued.

The Grafton River is faling slow

ly. At Murwillumbar 33 inches of ram has fallen since the beginning of February . Serious landslides are report ed. At Numinbah, the food shortage is becoming acute, no bread or other provisions having been received since Monday last week. Hitherto seven fatalities are reported. later;

In addition to the seven deaths resulting from floods mentioned earlier four are xeportd from Queensland. Al mins adjacent to the Cobar mine are'Mle, owing to the danger o floding should the pressure of water break the stopping at the. barriers.

Flood Waters Receding damage estimated at over a MILLION STERLING.

SYDNEY, February 21. The rain has ceased, and the weather is fine, with the exception of the northern districts, where it is still unsettled and showery. The floods are receding and the worst danger is past, excepting where large bodies of water from the upper reaches have still to be reckoned with. The railways are being rapidly restored. Grafton estimates the damage along .the Clarence Valley and the adjoining districts at £750,000, including £350,000 for maize crops and £lO,OOO for sugar cane. The Mayor is applying to the Government to assist in repairing losses. The streets arc still flooded and full of debris, and business is practically at a standstill. People are busy cleaning up and repairing the damage. A child died in the town, and as the burial ground was cut off by the floods, the body and mourners had to be conveyed to the graveside in boats. lleavy losses of pigs and cattle are reported throughout the district. In many places in the flooded areas, families were cut off anfl had to live on short rations till rescued. Some are still marooned on starvation rations, and there are many stories of narrow escapes and severe hardships.

The Bogan River invaded Nyngan and wide areas are under water. A number of families are marooned, and relief boats have been sen.t from Syd ney.

M r Bavin has issued instructions to meet all urgent claims, and do the utmost to mitigate any suffering caused by the floods.

MARYBOROUGH ISOLATED. BRISBANE, February 21. Fears of a flood in the Brisbane River a/e allayed. The water is now falling. The Albe’rt and Logan Rivers are in ithe highest of floods for years. Serious damage has caused the railway services to be badly dislocated in varioues places by floods and washaways. At Maryborough the river invaded the town and the suburbs are isolated, and wharves submerged. TWEED VALLEY DEEPLY INUNDATED. (Received February 21, at 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 21. Belated reports of the floods in the Tweed River, show that the wlhole Valley is deeply inundated, and isolat-

t*d towns and residents are suffering badly for want of food suplies, which have been cut off for days. Houses' in Murwillumbah arc flooded half way up the walls, and some even have only the roofs showing. The rainfall since the first of the month is thirtyfour inches. Throughout the week-end residents ' rowed about the streets in swimming | {costumes, rescuing property. The last report stats that the water is receding* . ? 4