TOO MUCH RAIN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7028, 17 January 1910, Page 6

TOO MUCH RAIN

A TOWN UNDER WATEE COUNTRY INUNDATED AND CROPS DESTROYED. RAILWAY TRAFFIC BLOCKED. Uy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received January 10, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 10. As a result of the rain which has [alien during the past few day 3 the rivcis in the State have risen rapidly and occasioned much damage. The northern rivers have been in particularly high flood, and both railway and telegraphic communication with Queensland were for a time cut ■ill. Numerous railway washaways are reported. Between Tuesday and yesterday, when the- weather cleared, eleven inches of ruin fell at Tamworth, where the river overflowed and inundated a "largo portion of the town, including the main streets. The depth of water in tho shops ranged, from four to ten feet, and great damage was done. All tho low-lying lands along tho river are under water, and some settlers' houses wero swept away, while in other cases people wore compelled to seek refuge on tho top of stacks. Tho Latest reports are that the water is falling. Na-rrabri and Quirindi report high floods, with groat damage to crops and considerable losses of stock. Tho mail trains from Brisbane and Sydney aro delayed for fifteen hours owing to washaways between Mondi and Tamworth, while telegraphic communication generally has been greatly disorganised during tho last few days 'by the rain. LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. RAILWAY SERVICE INTERRUPTED. WATER NOW SUBSIDING(Received; January 17, 1.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 16. Telegraphic communication with tho flooded districts is being restored and reports are slowly coming to hand. These show immense damage. Several lives have been lost. The Railway Commissioners have received a telegram from Moree that whita four men were taking a boat alongside a ballast train surrounded by floods the craft capsized and all were drowned. A wide area round Gunnedah is "under water. Boats have rescued people from tho tops of stacks and houses, where they had taken refuge. There were numbers of narrow escapes. A rescue "boat capsized and a man is missing. The damage at Tamworth is estimated at .£30,000. Narrabri and other centres have suffered severely, many people being flooded out. Though as far as possible stock were removed to high ground the losses are heavy. To-day's reports show that the floods are subsiding. Tho railway service is badly disorganised. 'Numerous washaways have to be restored.