N.S.W. DELUGE.

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1929, Page 5

N.S.W. DELUGE.

BIG RIVERS OVERFLOW. Enormous Damage. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) SYDNEY, February 11. The hoods in the North Coast districts are the worst for years. Several towns are inundated. The forecast is more rain and heavy falls, aggravating flood conditions. Not only on the North Coast, but further south the rain is torrential. The Hunter Biver is rising rapidly, and there is a possibility of floods in Newcastle. Many farms in the Taree district are covered to a depth of 12 feet. Torrential rains on the north coast caused heavy floods over the week 1 end in Hanning, MacLeay, Nambu'cca, and Bellinger rivers. The two first-named overflowed the banks and caused enormous damage to farm lands and maize crops. The water rose so rapidly in some towns that hundreds of people were trapped, and some on isolated farms had to be rescued by the police. Two men were drowned at Gloucester, in attempting to rescue other people, when they were swept away. The railway services between Gloucester are completely disorganised. Practically every shop and oflico in Gloucester is inundated. The damage is estimated at £40,000. Great damage was done to roads in the Newcastle district. It is estimated that a hundred thousand sterling will be required to restore them to the former condition. The bad state of the roads was responsible for a fatal accident, to John Parsons, aged twenty, who was killed when a lorry overturned at Cook’s Hill. Four others were injured.