FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19032, 1 June 1925, Page 9

FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

TIIR-EE more fatalities. PEOPLE SHELTER IN SCHOOLS. VICTORIAN AREA INUNDATED. By Telezraph—Presn Association —Copyright-. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, May 31. Reports from Wagga Wagga stale that the flood waters are subsiding very slowly. People are getting back to their homes, but a considerable portion of the streets of the town is still under water. Everything is in a deplorable condition. A conservative estimate of the damage is £50,000. Mr. J. McDonald, a station overseer in the Gundagai district, was drowned in the flood waters from the higher reaches. The Murrumbidgce River has now reached Narrandera, and is expected to touch its maximum height to-night or on Monday. The people who arc likely to be affected are taking timely precautions. ihe council is fortifying bridges and protecting public buildings with sandbag barricades. Two Men Drowned at Junee. Reports to hand from the various districts yesterday stated: — The damage done by the floods at. Moruya is estimated at between £25,000 and £30,000. Owing to the holding up of boats to Sydney there is a great shortage of many provisions and other necessaries. Two men were drowned at Junee. One was washed from the top of a corn shed and the other lost .his life while lie was driving his cattle to safety. At Gundagai the waters have fallen 3ft., but no very big fall is expected for some days. The waters are receding at Wagga Wagga. The weather is fortunately mild. Hundreds of people arc taking temporary shelter in the schools and halls. They are suffering from cold and their conveniences for cooking are primitive. , At Burrinjuck tho flood waters fell 13ft. in 24 hours. , Reports from Other Areas. Telephonic communication has been reestablished between Braidwood and Araluen. Both these centres suffered severely. It is not possible to get through yet by road. On tho Braidwood Road the approach to tho Warri bridge was washed away. In its place is a deep, impassable gorge 30ft. wide, through which tho river is rushing. The Braidwood district experienced tho heaviest flood in its history. Tho Shoalhaven River inundated an area seven miles wide. Landslips have blocked the road between Araluen and Moruya. Tho rainfall at Araluen since Sunday was 25in. There were many narrow escapes. A message from Melbourne states that the Snowy River at Delegate is very high and rising rapidly. A big flood is coming down the Quindong River, which empties into Snowy Flat. Dwellers in that area have been warned. Already a largo area has been submerged. A big -wash-out occurred on Prince's Highway, Watt's Gulch.