AUSTRALIAN FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN FLOODS.

TEARS OF RECURRENCE. SORRY PLIGHT OF VICTIMS. ENORMOUS DAMAGE DONE. SYDNEY SHORT OF MILK. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received June 22, C.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. June 21. Torrential rain fell this morning and revived fears of further floods. Tho break in the weather in the last two days had brought about a rapid fall in the inundations and people had begun to return to their sodden homes to mako a fresh start. Probably some will now be driven out again. The floods at Maitland aro receding, but thero are still miles of country under water. From Maitland town a brown sea extends for 15 miles in one direction and spreads over a wide area laterally. As most of tho churches at Maitland aro flooded a combined service wag this evening held in tho Anglican church. A woman refugee who was sheltering in the Town Ilall gave birth to a baby on Saturday afternoon. Thioves havo been visiting temporarily abandoned flooded houses and have removed articles of value in boats. The floods in the country districts havo caused a restriction of Sydney's milk supply, which is being rationed in some of tho suburbs. A special train from tho south coast will relievo the situation by tapping new sources of supply. Tremendous damugo was done in the Hunter River valley by the floods. Roads havo become canals and an extensive tour was made in a motor-boat to-day of what normally is dry ground. Many residents of Hexham spent Thursday night on the tops of roofs. They were then rescued by men in boats. One family was picked up exhausted after having spent tho night on a floating haystack. Many people aro isolated in north coast towns and have been without supplies for days. They will receive necessities of life by aeroplanes which left Sydney yesterday.