THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2902, 18 February 1893, Page 3

THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIAN.

[PBK PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Sydney, February 17. Telegraphic communication with Brisbane is again interrupted. The Barwon and Namoi rivers are in heavy flood, and the Clarence is rising with alarming rapidity. Wide stretches of agricultural laud are inundated, and many farmers are ruined. A portion of Lismore is under water. (Received February 18, noon.) Sydney, February 18. Railway communication is suspended beyond Tamworth, 280 miles north uf Sydney, Toowoomba, February 18. Reports of the fresh flood state that it is surpassing the previous one. Telegraphic communication with Brisbane failed yesterday morning, the j lines being completely submerged. Before communication ceased the flood had reached the level of the 1890 flood, and the water -was still rising rapidly.

Auckland, February 17. The Catholic bishop of Auckland, Dr Luck, intends to have collections in the churches of his diocese for the Queensland relief fund. The fund collected in the city up to the present time amounts to about eight hundred and eighty pounds. Gisborne, February 17. £60 has been collected in Gisborne and cabled to Brisbane; Chbistchurch, February 17. Che meeting of citizens convened by the Mayor of Christ church to consider the best means of affording relief to the sufferers in Queensland, was held tonight, but was not largely attended. Many offers of valuable assistance were made by leading men, clergymen, etc. On the motion of Mr E. S. Harley, President of the Chamber of Commerce, seconded by the Mayor of St Albans, it was resolved to request the Mayor to open a subscription list in money or kind for the Queensland relief fund. An executive Committee was formed, consisting of ths mayors of all suburban boroughs, chairmen of the various local bodies, ohief officers of the various friendly societies, together with city and suburban councillors, to canvass the district thoroughly. The executive were requested, to arrange with the churches for one Sunday to be set apart as *' Brisbane Sunday," when all collections will be devoted to the fund. The executive were requested to forward consignments of food, clothing, and money as fast as they came in. Mr E. Sandford.M.H.R, suggested a " Brisbane Saturday," with collection boxes in Cathedral Sqnare and all public resorts. The executive were requested to carry this out. At a meeting of Orangemen subscriptions .were opened and £50 collected and ordered to be cabled direct to Brisbane. To-morrow morning more is to follow from the country lodges. New Plymouth, February 17. A meeting convened by the Mayor was held last night to organise a committee for relieving distress caused by the Queensland ffoods. Subscription lists were opened and canvassers appointed. Palmerston North, February 17. The Honi Mr Seddon has received the following telegramfromMr Mills, Manager of the Union Steamship Company, Dunedin :—"I have communicated with the U.S.S. Co., and Messrs Howari, Smith and Son, who trade from Brisbane and Sydney, a,nd they have kindly offered to convey, free of charge, from Sydney to Brisbane, gifts of food supplies sent from New Zealand." Dunedin, February 17. The Queensland floods relief fund committee resolved this afternoon to send produce to the value of £250 by the Hauroto to-morrow. Invbrcargill, February 17. The meeting held in the Municipal offices to-night to tak.e steps to organise a canvass for subscriptions for the Queensland flood sufferers, was attended by | about thirty persons. The weather has been extremely unseasonable for the past three days and apologies for non-attend-ance were numerous. Over £50 was sent in«nd subscribed in the room, and district canvassers were appointed. The Hon. Mr Ward sent £5 sa, and Ward's Farmers Association £10 10s.