TAMWORTH UNDER WATER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7029, 18 January 1910, Page 5

TAMWORTH UNDER WATER

FATILITIES RECORDED MUCH DAMAGE IN OTHER DISTRICTS. RAILWAYS BLOCKED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. SYDNEY, January 17. So rapid was the rise of the floodwaters at Tamworth that several hundred people were caught in their business places and cut off from food supplies for sixteen hours, many having to take refuge on’ the verandahs and roofs of the buildings. A number of sensational incidents and gallant rescues aro reported. In the surrounding districts thousands of sheep and largo 1 numbers of horses and cattle were drowned.

The havoc wrought in the business portion of the town -is immense. The scone at the height of the flood was indescribable. As the heavy debris was swept along, it, smashed doors and windows, and stock was carried out of the shops in large quantities.

The streets, as the waters'subsided, were littered with furniture and stock-in-trade of all descriptions; and presented a remarkable appearance. -

The flood at- Narrahri was the highest known. Largo areas of the surrounding districts were submerged, causing widespread 'damage. ■ Many settlers were compelled to leave their homes. •

Owners succeeded in getting most'of their stock on the high .ground! before the worst came. ' ,

At Gunnedah the lower part of the town was flooded, some of the houses up to the eaves- The residents have taken refuge'in public buildings., The country, was a sea for ten miles round. Many residents • spent the night .on roofs and .up trees. . ■ :

Two men are reported missing. The township of Carroll was swept by the flood-waters, and some houses wore carried bodily away. Furniture and dead stock littered the rivers. The losses of stock - in' the district. are believed to be heavy. At.Narrahri arid Moreo the- full extent of the damage, is not .. known. Great tracts of , country are v inundated.V ‘ .

At latest reports the, waters were slowly receding. - ■■ Farmers along- tli© valley country Buffered severely. , • . ■ ; Tire . damage to railways and roads in tire flooded districts is heavy; Thor© have been numerous washaways, and many bridges have-been destroyed. Queensland telegram's report heavy rain and flood at Dalby. ’-t LATEST DETAILS' FOUR PERSON'S DROWNED .AT ' WEE WAA. FINAii WORD FROM TELEGRAPH OPERATOR. > (Received January 18, 1.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 17. . Latest advices show that the flood is very severe at "Wee Wad, a town "with a population of nearly a : thousand, situated on a lagoon of the same, name, near tho Naaioi river, and 376 miles north-west of Sydney. A telegram from .Wee Waa 'reported that a boat liad-capsized and four persous were drowned—a Mr Grace And his wife and a Mrs Chapman and her daughter. When: the message was dispatched the biggest flood on record was running, -and the: operator was then leaving the office, which the flood waters; were surrounding.' ■ ; 1 i 1 Telegraphic communication with,, the town has since been interrupted. COLLAPSE OF BRIDGES. RAILWAY SERVICE DISORGANISED. , SYDNEY, January 17. . Railway traffic between Invercll and Moree is stopped, and is not likely to be restored for some time owing to the collapse of a "bridge. . ■ The destruction of two other bridges has blocked the line hot'.-een Warialda and Bingara. ......