The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 29 Mar 1926 1
COONAMBLE’S PLIGHT.
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NO TRAINS FOR THREE DAYS.
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Coonamble, Saturday.
Owing to washaways on the line, no trains have arrived since Wednesday. The service is expected to be resumed to-day or to-morrow. Mail coaches have mostly been hold up owing to flooded creeks and impassable roads.
a020000331.jpg. Reproduction: Peter de Waal
The river [Castlereagh] has now fallen to 10 feet, being 5 feet lower than yesterday, and unless more, heavy rain occur there is no danger of further flood. The approach to the river bridge, which was washed away, has been repaired temporarily by planks, allowing the passage of light traffic.
Judge Armstrong, who was presiding at the [Coonamble] Quarter Sessions, has been delayed here since Thursday, together with the Crown Prosecutor and leading solicitors and barristers.
Flood watars have done considerable damage to the streets in the low-lying portions of the town. Gangs of men have been employed day and night removing debris from the bridge. Huge trees were caught by the piles of the structure.
Reports from the country state that all creeks are in flood, but no serious losses of stock have so far been reported.
The most serious washaway on the railway line was at Geanmoney, six miles from Coonamble, where a large gang is effecting repairs. Sergeant Jones and the police under him have given valuable assistance in warning people of approaching danger. The Mayor (Alderman John Collins) has also been most attentive. The weather was fine this morning.
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Gilgandra Weekly, Thu 1 Apr 1926 2
STRANDED
His Honor, Judge Armstrong, who presided at the Quarter Sessions at Coonamble last week, was temporarily stranded in that town as a result of the delay in train traffic, caused by a washaway of the railway line between Combara and Coonamble.
Others delayed were Mr Stacey (Crown Prosecutor), Messrs WP Kelly and AJL Stockwell, solicitors, Wellington, and Mr P Hunter (official short-hand writer) accompanying His Honor.
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Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thu 1 Apr 1926 3
LOCAL NEWS.
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COONAMBLE QUARTER SESSIONS.—
At the Coonamble Quarter Sessions presided over by Judge Armstrong,
Dolphin Hamden Steele, charged with assault, was acquitted.
Robert Hutchinson, James Yeo, and Alfred John Yeo were charged with causing damaged to and engine and motor lorry. Hutchinson was acquitted, and James Yeo was sentenced to 18 months, and Alfred Yeo to nine months in Goulburn Gaol.
William Clarence Shamrock pleaded guilty to common assault, and was bound over in a £20 surety to appear for sentence within twelve months.
William Gallett [sic–Gillett] was charged with indecent assault. The jury failed to agree and the accused was remanded to next sessions.
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, (NSW), Mon 26 Mar 1926, p. 11. Emphasis added.
2 Gilgandra Weekly, (NSW), Thu 1 Apr 1926, p. 4. Emphasis added.
3 Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, (NSW), Thu 1 Apr 1926, pp. 26, 27. Emphasis added.