DISASTROUS FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 11

DISASTROUS FLOODS.

EASTERN AUSTRALIA.

LISMORE UNDER WATER.

SCENES OF DESOLATION.

DEATHS BY DROWNING.

GREAT MATERIAL DAMAGE.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received February 8, 7.45 p.m.) SYDNEY. Feb. 8. Tho floods along the north coast of New South Wales and in South Queensland are tho worst in their history. Tho flood waters arc five and six feet icloep in the shops of Lismore's main street Although tho rain has ceased the river continues to rise, and tho position is serious.

More than 5000 people were driven from their homes at Lismore. The town is in a state of indescribable confusion. Speed-boats are racing up and down the streets with homeless people. Members of the exchange left their work in boats. Household furniture is floating about the water. Men, women and children are moving about in bathing costumes. Rescue From the Torrent. Mr. Carl'Wilkinson was diving under a house to rescue something when he hit his head on a projection and was drowned. Another man in attempting to save himself by holding the tail of a horse which was swimming through the torrent was washed away, but later was rescued in an unconscious state and was resuscitated. The residents were rescued from the housetops by police boats, which were perilously overloaded. Miles of dairying land has been inundated. At Coraki the river has broken its banks at several places, and farmers were forced to flee, leaving tho stock to be drowned. All the low-lying country is submerged, and the worst is yet to come. Landslides have occurred at Ivyogle, bridges have been washed away, and many houses are completely submerged. Thl water at places is a mile wide. In Brisbane suburbs there were scenes of desolation. Ruined and smashed furriture and -flattened fences were seen on all sides. ■ Most of the train and tram services have been resumed. Some people who were forced to vacate their homes have returned, to find' them in a terrible condition, with mud and slush inches deep on the floors and the furniture ruined. Man Drowned in a Creek. The creeks in the country districts are Btill runnitfg strongly. Tho Nerang River is a raging torrent. A man was drowned while trying to cross a flooded creek in tiie Oxley district. Part of the Ipswich Road at Rocklea ifc 15ft. under water, aiid only the roofs of nearly all the houses are visible. Schools have been closed, and all the train services to tho north have ceased. A heavy flood is predicted in several of the northern rivers. The river steamer Momba was swept downstream by the flood waters in the Brisbane River. She rammed the lighter Sand, then crashed into the -stern of the Mundillaf and finally ran ashore at New Farm. DEATHS AT BRISBANE.

THREE "PERSONS DROWNED.

REFUGEES RETURN HOME. (Received February 8, 5.5 p.m.) y BRISBANE, Feb. 8. Two men and a boy have been drowned In tho Brisbane floods, which are now rapidly falling. Hundreds of refugees are returning to their homes. While the tide was at its peak in the Brisbane' Kiver yesterday, the water was about four feet above the wharves on tho northern bank. Drowned cattle and domestic pets are being washed down with the torrent.