FLOOD DAMAGE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 22 February 1928, Page 5

FLOOD DAMAGE

HEAVY LOSSES EXPECTED.

WORST DANGER OVER. WATER RECEDING. MY OAHI.R l-BKHS ASPdCI ATIO’N i'OPYRJUH'i SYDNEY, Feb. 21. The rain has ceased and the weather is.line, with the exception of the northern districts, where it is still unsettled and showery. .The floods are receding and the worst danger i© past, excepting where large bodies of water from the upper reaches have still to he reckoned with.' The railways are beiug rapidly restored. Grafton estimates that the damage along the Clarence Valley and adjoining; districts at £750,000, including £350.000 to the maize crop and £IO,OOO to the sugar cane crops. The Mayor is applying to the Government for assistance in repairing the losses. The streets are still flooded and full of debris, and business is practically at a standstill, the people being busy cleaning up and repairing the damage. A child died in town and the burial ground was out off by the floods. The body and the mourners had to be conveyed to the graveyard in boats. Heavy losses of pigs and cattle are reported throughout the district. In many daces in the flooded areas families were out off and had to live on short rations till rescued. Some are still mairooned and are on starvation rations. Many stories of narrow escapes and severe hardships have been received.

The Bogan River invaded Nyngan, and wide areas are under water. A number of families are marooned and relief boats have been sent from Sydney. This Premier, Mr Bavin, has issued instructions to meet all urgent claims and do the utmost to mitigate any suffering caused by the floods and washaways. At Maryborough, the rivetr invaded the town. The .suburbs are isolated and the wharves submerged. Belated reports of the floods in the Tweed River show that the whole valley is deeplv inundated. Isolated townships and residents are suffering badly for want of food, supplies of which have been cut off for days. The houses in Murwillumbah are flooded half way up the wal 1 ®, and some even have only the roofs showing. The rainfall since the first of the month has been 34 inches. Throughout the wisek-end the residents rowed about the streets in swimming costumes, rescuing their property, The latest reports state that the water ©are receding.

IN THE RIVER!NA. GRAZIERS AND FARMERS WILL BENEFIT. PROSPECTS FOR GOOD AUTUMN. Received 11.25 a.m. to-day. SYDNEY. Feb. 22. Oraziers and farmers-in the Riverina district state that enormous benefit will result from the rains. The only interest that lias suffered has been grapegrowing, the berries being caught at the ripening stage. The autumn should bo the best experienced for many years. All the lower Riverina stock lias' been removed to the home pastures. as there is now an abundance of grass in districts - which have been grass I ess for two or more years.