THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2904, 21 February 1893, Page 2

THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

[PBK I'RBSS ASSOCIATION,]

(Received February 21, 10 35 a.m.) London. February 20 The Queens'and Relief Fund has reached £2000.

Brisbane, February 20. The gunboat Palunah and other vessels stranded in the Botanical Gardens a fortnight ago were floated off by yesterday's flood, and are now safely moored. Ipswich is again inundated, and the public buildings are crowded with refugees. The scenes of distress are most pitiable. The railway to Toowoomba is washed away. The starving people at Goodna, near Brisbane, were relieved by a boat load of provisions sent from Ipswich. The flood at Toowoomba is reported to be now subsiding. | A man named Oahill was swept away and his skull smashed by coming into contact with a bridge. Several large houses were washed down the stream against Saddler's bridge at Ipswich. The Eclipse colliery is again inundated. Sydney, February 20 It is anticipated that the bulk of the maize crop in the Clarence district has been destroyed. The country for ten miles from Grafton is an unbroken sheet of water. No serious casualties are reported. (Received February 21, 19.15 p.m.) Sydney, February 21. The floods are receding at Oraf ton. Reports from the neighboring districts state the maize crop is nearly all destroyed: The young sugars have suffered much damage. The cyclone demolished three houses in the Tweed district. Bkisbvne, February 21. The flood waters are slowly subsiding* The loss, compared with that of a fortnight ago, is comparatively small in Brisbane itself. The country between Ipswich and the city, however, is in a terrible condition. The railway is considerably damaged, and many ■mall bridges are washed away.

Chiustchubch, February 20. The Queensland relief fund is gradually swelling in aU directions. The Mayor's fund now leashes £88. Several Friendly Societies are also contributing. The Christchurch Working Men's Club tonight voted £20, and opened subscription lists for its members. All proceeds are to be sent in best flour. Active preparations are being made for a monster performance^ at the theatre on Thursday. Mr Worthington will lecture on " American men | and women "on Wednesday. The united l bands performance will be given on Friday, and there are many other minor events, all fo aid the fund- The executive meets each day at eleven, and canvassing I is going on apace. | Oaiblru, February 20. At a meeting of the Brisbane Relief Committee to-day, it was stated that £222 was collected, with more lists to crnae in. It was decided to cable £175 at once.

A meeting to arrange for holding a' promenade concert in aid of the Queensland Floods Relief Fund was held last night at the Arcade (-hambirs. There was a good attendance, and among those present were Mr C. W. Purnell (who was voted to the chair), Mr T? edmayne (chairmar Tinwald Town Board), Rev Mr Lawry, Councillors Paul and Cuthbertscn, Dr Tweed, Messrs Rule, Lechner, Tasker, H. A, Gates, P. Williams, Elston, Wilmshurst, Bisset, Field. J. Lane, Kersel, Light, Still well, and Truckle. His Worship the Mayor entered during the progress of the meeting. The Chairman read the requisition calling the meeting, and explained that it had struck some of the Horticultural Society Committee; while the Arcade is scill enclosed and decorated, to hold a promenade, there in aid of the i Queensland sufferers. Mr Thomas had given the Arcade free, Mr Elston and Mr Cawsej had offered to contribute the lighting, and the Mail and Guardian, "Lyttelton Timesi" and " Press ". would advertise the concert gratis, Mr Gamble print the tickets, and several musical people had volunteered their services, so that the whole of the proceeds would go" to the relief fund. Mr Rule moved that a promenade concert in aid -of the sufferers by the Queensland floods be held in the Arcade on Thursday night. This was seconded by Mr Elstsn and carried. In answer to Dr Tweed, it was explained that the concert would be part of the general relief scheme. The following Committee was appointed to make arrangements! —Messrs Rule, Lechner, Gates, Williams, Elston, and Hoskins, Mr Rule to be treasurer and Mr Williams secretary.. On the motion of Dr Tweed it was resolved that all present form a general Committee to assist the executive Committee, by selling tickets, etc.; also that the Mayor and Council be asked to give their patronage. After several suggestions the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. The executive Committee met immediately afterwards, and decided that the concert should include items by the Ashburton Bra<w Band, Mr Gates' string band, tableaux, glees, and popular and comic songs. The Committee was overwhelmed with offers of assistance, and *^o concert will be a capital one. Tickets, price Is, will be on dale everywhere today.

The correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times " sends the following particulars :— The rainfall began on Tuesday, January 31, and as an instance of the enormous quantity which fell during the flood it may be metioned that at Mooloola, between Brisbane and Gympie, 671 inches were registered on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday last. The heaviest record was on Thursday, when over 2sin were registered. The total rainfall for Brisbane for the eight days ended Wednesday, February 8, was about 23in. When the flood was at. the highest the picture was one that will .live for ever in the minds of those who witnessed it from the height of Elderwell. Towards Westwater, the Albion Hill railway bridge, over Breakfast creek, was located only hy the tips of the plates of the grinders. It is estimated that the water rose fully 10ft higher than in 1890. On the eastern side of the hills it could be seen that the whole of the Eagle farm flats were sob merged, while the surging flood which thundered down Eedron Brook on to S rpentine Flits cut off completely all j connection with Mundah and toe country I beyond towards Hfudgee. The scene of desolation at North Brisbane is timply indescribable. The damage done will amount to hundreds of thousands of Pounds. It is estimated that 600 houses passed , down the river from within a lew miles of' of Brisbane. One man counted 100 houses come do*m and strike against the bridge! within an hour. Six .houses in a row' game down the stream together, and were

smashed to pieces against the structure ■■- with a loud report. They were thrown hjeh into the air, aud as the shattered timbers fell they were engulphad below 11 he bridge and passed through on the other side. The waier was 30ft deep in Stanley street, South Brisbane, and 6f>. over the counter of Messrs Finuey Isles' tailoring and drapery establishment at the corner of Queen street and Edward street, Norrh Brisbane A large portion of South Brisbane is completely wrecked or carried bodily aw ty. Hundreds of houses carried off by the water have undoubtedly found the ir way seaward, and quite as many lie in ruins piled one upon the other. They form a striking monument of the greatest disaster that has ever befallen iSrisbane. Stanley street, which runs parallel with the rivlr, is virtually in ruins. CiX uiiily one-half of the buildings wh;u.. .iaed the. thoroughfare - have either disappeared or have been forced . into such positions as to render them uninhabitable. Great damage! has been done at the dry docks, where nearly the whole of the buildings have been washed away. Here and there Bheetj of iron removed from tenements still standing show how the dwellers have been driven to break through on the roof before they were rescued. The high railway embankment prevented dozens of houses froan floating away, but judging from their appearance not one will be of any other use th%n for firewood.