TOLL OF THE FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19031, 30 May 1925, Page 9

TOLL OF THE FLOODS.

DISASTER IN AUSTRALIA.

SEVERAL STRICKEN TOWNS.

PLIGHT OF VVAGGA WAGGA. THOUSANDS LEAVE HOMES. OAMI'S ON HIGH GROUND, ENORMOUS DAMAGE DONE. By Telegraph—l'ress Association—Copyright. (Received 10.45 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, May 29. now in the full grip I of the Hood, which is steadily increasing in volume up the liver. Tho water has been pouring down all day, and gradually invading the streets An afternoon report states that a largo part, of the town, including the wholo of I North Wagga Wagga, is already under water. Streams many feet deep arc rushing through some of tho streets and many of tho chief business places are submerged sft. and 6ft. Huge pieces of debris smashed the flood barricades which were erected in front of the shops, thus doing serious damage. Tho people wero warned in time and owing tp the gradual rise of the water they wero enabled to vacate their houses and store most of their belongings safely beforo they were driven out. Rescue and Salvage Work. Rescue and salvage work, assisted by a good supply of boats, proceeded actively throughout last night and to-day, and is being continued as the encroachment progresses. Two hundred families from North Wagga Wagga arc camped on tho show ground, and all houses on tho high levels are crammed with refugees. Several thousands of people havo been driven from their homes. The racecourso park is many feet deep under flood. The swirling river is carrying past the town the bodies of cattle, pigs and horses in largo numbers. A citizens' relief committee has been formed for tho piyposo of attending to the wants of tho homeless. Wokojcna, 40 miles up tho river, has reported that the water reached its maximum at 11 o'clock this morning, and has since fallen 2ft. The bulk of this water has still to reach Wagga Wagga, before tho position becomes easier. In tho meantime', a rise of at least 2ft. is anticipated, which means that a further large area will suffer. Queanbeyan, Yass, Gundagai, and other invaded towns, where the floods have largely subsided, arc sorry spectacles. The houses are full of filth, and tho streets are choked with mud and filth and dead animals. Enormous Losses. Tho damage is enormous everywhere. At Gundagai it is estimated at £IOO,OOO, and at Yass £40,000. These estimates do riot take any account of the outlying districts, many of which are still cut off. The conditions there and the extent of the damage is yet unknown. The losses of stock in the pastoral and farming areas are likely to be very heavy. Luckily, no further rain of consequence has fallen in the flooded areas where communication is utterly disorganised. Roads havo been destroyed and telegraph or telephone lines have been washed away. These dislocations are interfering with the transmission of cablo news from southwards. A late report states that tho flood reached its highest point at nine o'clock this evening. It then commenced to fall. In a Tree for 18 Hours. Earlier reports received were as follow :—. The flood waters at Gundagai showed a drop of 6in. last night. The last man in danger was rescued after 18 hours up a tre*;. One hundred corn pickers and rabbiters are out of employment. At Canberra the water had fallen 12ft. Moruya experienced tho greatest flood on record. Tho c;oasta! steamer Bermagui was carried bodily over tho retaining wall and stranded many yards from tho channel. In order to refloat her tho wall will have *' to be cut and tho channel dredged to the river. Tho rain on tho Mtirrumbidgeo watershed has ceased. Tho Shodlhaven River has commenced to drop. Tho Yass River rose 32ft., which is 10ft. higher than any previous flood level. Many houses were washed away. The river levels at Goulburn did not reach the height of a fortnight ago by 2ft. Bridge approaches suffered severely. Two Men Drowned. Tho bodies of two men drowned at Gundagai and Queanbeyan have been recovered. Two men were surrounded at Gundagai by floods. One swam his horse ashore. The other was washed away. Two others were carried away on top of a haystack. One swam to safety, the other was rescued from his perilous perch as tho stack dr.:tcd ( down the river. Tho river was 20ft. above its summer level. The country round about is a sea of water, ,which invaded many of the houses to such depth that furniture is floating about. A number of people have been rescued in boats. Many horses, cattle and pigs were drowned iiid their bodies drifted down the river with tons of cut hay, which Was swept off the paddocks. Many acres of maize crops which were just ready for [(tilling wero swept away. Tho damage is reported to be, enormous. 7 "