FLOOD WATERS

Southland Times, Issue 17347, 19 May 1913, Page 5

FLOOD WATERS

SIX FEET IN A STREET. DEVASTATION IN N.S.W. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). SYDNEY. May 17. The sea 5s abating. The railway traffic in the northern river districts is badly dislocated owing to washaways by Hoods. Communication beyond Singleton has been cut off, and the Brisbane express is still held up. There are breaks in various other places, and traffic will probably not be restored before Monday or Tuesday. Though the water is now falling, the whole of the low-lying lands along the Hunter River Valley are deeply flooded, and the losses of crops and stock and the damage to property are very heavy. Water invaded the streets and many houses in Singletonr-and .. Maitland, in some to a depth of three feet. The people, warned by the ringing of the lirebeils, removed their goods and fled for safety to the -fiofelsTbuildings. All vehicular traffic is suspended, and business is at a standstill. Boats are plied in High street, Maitland. Settlers in outside disiric-ls "were rescued by boats, there being several drowning fatalities and many narrow and sensational escapes are reported. The country is strewn with articles washed from houses, vegetables, dead animals and debris of all kinds. Several houses collapsed and were washed bodily away. At Bulahdelah there is six feet of water in the main street, and residents were rescued by means of boats. Muswellbrook. Gloucester. Dungog and many other towns suffered similarly, and the residents are heavy losers. The devastation of farms is general. Mail communication has been suspended. Some of the residents of the Hunter Valley were rescued from coops and other perilous positions after spending hours in the storm.

A man named Slack was washed out of a buggy at Kelso and drowned. It is believed that his companion has also been drowned. The Manning River Is in high flood, and much damage and loss has been sustained, FLOODS RECEDING. ENORMOUS DAMAGE. SYDNEY, May 18. Received May 18, 5.5 p.m. Floods in the northern rivers are steadily subsiding. Hundreds who had been driven from their homes are returning. It is estimated that the losses will be as serious as in the big floods of 1893. . , Many farmers have lost the whole of their winter crops. RAILWAY TRAFFIC STILL AFFECTED. SYDNEY, May 18. Received May 19, 12.25 a.m. Railway traffic in the flooded districts is still interrupted.