STORM AND FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20580, 3 June 1930, Page 9

STORM AND FLOODS.

DAMAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

HEAVY SEAS ON COAST.

FISHING PARTY MISSING.

By Telegraph—Press Associnlion—Copyright.

SYDNEY* .Tune 2. A cloudburst over Karitjaroo Valley,

on tho south coast, caused widespread damage. Long stretches ol permanent way have been washed out by Hood waters or covered by landslides.

Railway traffic has hepn disorganised and crops have suffered heavily. Several settlers had narrow escapes Serious floods are f«-ared. Telegraph poles were.carried away and cattle were

swept down gorges by the force of the storm waters.

The homes of two farmers were cut off by Bft. of water, and as tho flood was still rising they took a desperate chance and swam with their womenfolk to safety.

Two feet of water flooded Picton and Warwick Farm, and 300 motor-cars were trapped in 3ft. of water, tho motorists being carried off in boats. There is a brighter side to the storm, however, a3 the soaking rain inland will

mean millions of pounds to the primary producers of the State, who have been waiting many months for such rain, which covers the whole of New South Wales. The north coast received very heavy falls and floods aro likely in the far northern rivers. John James, aged 17, was swept from a horse when crossing a covered bridge on tho Tweed and was drowned. Sydney experienced a particularly wild night while a cyclone was raging off tho coast. The high seas seriously interfered with shipping. A launch was wrecked of! Amity Point, Stradhroke Island, and two members of a fishing party were drowned. The auxiliary schooner Joseph Sims is a total loss on Passage Island, in tho Flinders group, but the crew is safe on board another vessel. A fishing yawl ran ashore at Botany Bay and its three occupants donned lifebelts and swam through the breakers. They were exhausted when they reached the shore.

Grave fears are entertained for the safety of two men and two women, comprising a fishing party which left Newport in a small launch. It is believed they have been swept out to sea.