FLOODED AREAS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 25 June 1931, Page 4

FLOODED AREAS

SOUTHERN N.S. WALES

TRAFFIC SUSPENDED

BETWEEN SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

SYDNEY, i24th June.

Latest reports from the flooded areas in southern New South Wales and the northern portions ol Victoria disclose deplorable conditions. Three hundred inhabitants at Wagga were driven from their homes and are sheltering in the showground. Passengers on the Melbourne bound express are marooned at Junee owing to extensive washaways and all traffic by road and rail between Sydney and Melbourne lias been suspended. The Mumimbidgee and Lachlan rivers arc heavily flooded and it is feared that they will reach record proportions. The Murray river is only a foot below the record level.

All the principal centres report that rain continues.

Hundreds of miles of southern pastoral country are under water and tremendous destruction is occurring all along the Victorian border. The laud is submerged for many miles and thousands of acres of dairy land in the neighbourhood of Woodongn have been submerged for a fortnight. Now the Federal capital is threatened by the worst flood in its history owing to the overflowing of the Molonglo riveiv Twb people have already been drowned—Alfred Ilicks aged 50 years, at Culcairn, and Cyril Underwood (30) near Orange.

GROWING ALARM WATERS STILL RISING FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE FEARED (Received 25th June, 9.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Messages from the South-west indicate growing alarm in many towns as the flood waters are rising. At Wagga and Junee business is at a standstill and scores of residents awoke to find water swirling through their houses. Waters are pouring from Lake Albert, four miles away, into Wagga. This town is in grave danger, the Murrumbidgec having risen to 29 feet: A flow of twelve feet over the spillway of Burrinjurk dam is reported. Back waters overflowed on to surrounding property. At- Hay the Mumimbidgee is more than six- feet above the critical mark. Conditions are equally disturbing on the Lachlan river. Forbes is safe, but all low-lying country is covered to a dentil of several feet. The main bridge over Adelong creek was washed awav and the main street at Ganmain is under four feet of water. A record flood is expected at Tumut.

Rain is still falling. . . Two others are reported missing .and are believed to have been drowned in Biilabong creek.