FLOODS IN N.S.W.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 29 December 1926, Page 5

FLOODS IN N.S.W.

SCORES RENDERED HOMELESS DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT MANY THOUSANDS. (Per Press Association —Copyright.; SYDNEY, this day. Torrential rains have bene fitted the whole State, but have taused heavy floods in many parts of the town of Ccssnock and suburbs. Newcastle suffered severely, and scores of people were rendered home Jess. There ware many thrilling rescues The rain, falling without cessation for forty-eight hours, submerged all low-lying parts of Newcastle and district, causing damage estim ated at many thousand of pounds. Belmont, a holiday resort on Lake Mackuarrie, is cut off from Newcastle both by rail and by road, owing to sections of the line and road being submerged. So rapidly did the flood waters rise that the safety of the inhabitants was jeopardised, as the local municipal authorities had made ncprovision for rescue work in the event of floods, and the work had to be taken over by the Newcastle police. The water police manned skiffs, and, rowing up and down the flooded streets, rescued the householders As the rain continutes, it is anticipated the position will become more acute. Reports from all parts of the country state that communications are greatly interrupted. There are many washouts on the railways, and are disorganising the traffic. Cessnock was flooded without warning the waters rising so rapidly that residents barely had time to escape from the submerged homes. In one ease police had to swim a hundred yards to rescue a family, whom they pulled into boats by ropes Many miners with their families encamped in the garden suburb of North Stoekton for the holidays, and had to evacuate as the tents were torn down by a cyclone which accompanied the flooda. So far only one fatality is reported. An old man living in a tent at the foot of the Liverpool Range near Murrundi was drowned in attempting to cross a flooded gully. Further floods and heavy gales are anticipated, and flood warnings have been issued in all parts of the country.