SWEPT BY FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20601, 27 June 1930, Page 16

SWEPT BY FLOODS.

NEW SOUTH WALES DAMAGE. MANY HOUSES ISOLATED. FAMILIES RESCUED BY POLICE. One of tho most disastrous floods that has occurred in Now South Wales of recent years swept through several portions of that State last week. Residents of South Maitland, a low area near the Maitland railway station, experienced an unforgettable ordeal on tho night of Juno 18. Th 6 water roso rapidly and numerous houses were completely isolated. Many people had their furniture and other belongings removed. It was a common sight to seo pianos boing removed by lorries. The water was up to tho window sills of many houses. Flood boats were requisitioned and families, whoso homes wero surrounded wero conveyed to safety. Rescues wore effected at Dagworth, whore the rapidly rising waters marooned a number of families. Constable Crommelin, with a scratch crew, rowed for miles against the swirling treacherous waters. At orio house, a doublo-storey structure, tho constable had to break a window on the top floor with an axe. A man and his wife and sick baby wero trapped in a bedroom. Tho water was up to the ceiling on tho lower floor.

Another difficult rescue was effected at East Greta Junction, where a man and his wife and family were in a house right in tho path of the oncoming waters. The house was trembling with the terrific strain.

Unwilling to Leave Home. One old couple, both over 70 years of age, refused point blank to leave their old home. Their son fruitlessly endeavoured to persuade them, but they would not budge although the water was rapidly rising. The son rode for the police. Constable Ritchie was obliged to carry tho old couple through tho water which was then waist high. Even then they left unwillingly. In a cruelly cold wind and sweeping rain, many more people deserted their flooded homes in and around Maitland, and it was estimated that a thousand wero homeless.

Few of the refugees slept at night, although three halls, the school and other buildings, were made available to shelter them. The cold discomfort, the thoughts of their ravaged homes and the monacing roar of the angry river precluded the possibility of sleep for most of them. Many of the refugees escaped with nothing but the clothes they wore, and these were saturated.

All business services were disorganised, as there were large areas to which tradesmen's vehicles were unable to penetrate. Rations were issued to distressed families in some .parts of the town. Rescue work went on all night amid rushing waters and impenetrable darkness, very often at great personal risk to the rescuers, but no call for help went unheeded.

One man, driving a horse and sulky, travelled the flooded roads for hours in tho darkness, to assist tliose trapped in their houses. The water invaded business promises in tho centre of West Maitland and was rushing through some of tho shops. Weary and Shivering. Daylight found lights still burning in many houses and business premises, members of families having kept watch by turns throughout the night, and the staffs of many business places having worked all night, removing stock to higher shelves. Weary women aud shivering children presented a sad sight in tho halls and public buildings, where flood sufferers were sheltered. Attempts were mado to play games to pass tho time, but it was noticeable that few players seemed to concentrate on the games. All through the night could bo heard tho roar of tho storm, tho moan of rising water and the distracted bellowing of cattle on tho flood-swept flats near tho town. A worried woman in the Oakhampton area guarded three small children on a verandah just a foot above a torrent of water in the early morning. Crying pitoously, tho children implored tho mother to take them away. For half an hour they remained helpless till a boat crew carried them to safety. Much damage was done to tho citrus orchards in the Hawkesbury River districts. Tho torrential downpours swept quantities of soil from the hillsides, while tho cyclonic winds tore the foliago to pieces. Many market gardens had all the crops washed out or ruined. Houses and sheds were unroofed and jetties and baths damaged along the foreshores.