WATER FAMINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 927, 27 June 1903, Page 2

WATER FAMINE.

THE PLIGHT OF BROKEN HILL TANTALISING RAIN-DROPS. By Peiegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. & SYDNEY, June 2ti. A wire from Broken llril at midnight, reported that a light shower find fallen, and the sky was overcast. 'Hie work of getting the auxiliary pumps to work at Stephen's Creek is proving more diitieult. H is expected to iili the service reservoir to eiiauie the residents of the lower part of the town to he supplied. 'file liberation of gases and dynamite is being carried on for the purpose of nun-making. Tin- Ministers’ Association has resolved lo hold meetings daily to often prayers for rain.

At a pubic meeting a resolution was earned, urging the Government to at once supply Ihe poor with food, as their credit had been slopped{and great distress exists. Among resolutions carried at the public meeting at Broken Hill was one expressing indignation at the waterworks engineer neglecting tu give due notice of the shortage of water.

Replying to the message conveying the resolution, the Minister for Public Works wired, stating that it was absurd to suppose the Government were shuffling over the dilliculty, and promising relief works and assistance.

He stated that all might rely on the Government doing its duty.

The Premier also resents the condemnation of tho Government in not making earlier precautions and says that tne stoppage of the mines came as a shock tu the Government, which on Saturday was informed that the water would last ten days. The British mines are arranging to re-start on a half scale in <- few days, utilising the water stored in tdie workings and obtained from other sources.

Local correspondents state there is already much distress among the miners.

Numbers of the miners are leaving the town.