RUIN SPREAD BY GREAT FLOODS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18393, 20 February 1928, Page 10

RUIN SPREAD BY GREAT FLOODS.

TOWNS INUNDATED, LIVES LOST AND MORE TROUBLE FOLLOWING. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —CopyrightAue. and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, February 19. With continuous copious rains over a great part of the Commonwealth, floods and consequent damage to crops And property are reported in all directions. Several lives are reported to have been lost at Grafton. The Clarence River invaded the town. The water is eighteen inches deep in parts of the Twain street, and in the lower portions of the town it is still deeper. Residents spent a feverish night removing goods belonging to business places and houses. Water brigades, busily engaged in watching the rising of the waters, had to remove marooned inhabitants from some of the houses along the river valley. Large areas of crops and much stock were destroyed. Many residents were driven from their homes. The electric supply is threatened and the town will probably be plunged into darkness. The river last night slightly receded, but, as further rain has fallen and much flood water has still to come down from the upper reaches, worse conditions are expected. The river is a mile wide at Grafton and the wharves are submerged. Over a hundred families along the valley were driven from their homes. At Murwillumbah many people had to evacuate their homes. An unconfirmed report states that, besides Constable Alpin, who was drowned in a creek in the Kyogle district, two other men were drowned. A man named Barnes was drowned and farmers on the Island of Forbes report that a man named Stephenson, while attempting to swim the flooded Macquarie River, lost his life. Passengers by the express train which left Melbourne on Thursday reached Sydney last night. They were marooned at Cootamundra owing to washaways 'on the line. Numerous washaways, with consequent dislocation to traffic, occurred, and road traffic generally is at a standstill. In the Ardlethan district the township of Beckon is completely inundated. The inhabitants are marooned, the only partially dry place being the hotel, which is a two-storey building, where residents are crowded, camped on tables and other points of vantage. At Ardlethan similar conditions prevail. Big floods are swelling down the Hunter, Patterson and Williams River valleys, causing widespread ruin. Newcastle is preparing to meet the flood when the waters reach the town. The Hawkesbury River overflowed miles of rich flats in the valley, devastating big stretches of corn and vegetables. A number of residents were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge. The outlook generally is very ominous More rain is promised, though the fall at present has temporarily ceased. , POSITION IN QUEENSLAND. Unceasing heavy rain over the Brisbane River basin caused a rapid rise of water in the upper reaches. Fearing a flood when this water arrives in the already swollen lower reaches, all vessels have been ordered to leave the city wharves by midnight. Other rivers also are flooded extensively.