THE CANTON FLOODS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 277, 30 June 1888, Page 3

THE CANTON FLOODS.

SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE SWEPT AWAY AND DKOWNED. The Hongkong " Mail " says : The native newspapers are full of accounts about disastrous floods that occurred about a week ago along the banks of the Canton river. At Fukling in the Tungkoon district several villages have been submerged and great damage done to property. It is difficult to ascertain, from the somewhat vague reports of the native journals the exact extent of the loss of life. The number is spoken of as several hundreds, and from all accounts seems to be pretty large. Governor Ncr left Canton a few days ago to inspect the place where the flood occurred, and the Oi Yuk Bin Tong, a hospital at Canton, and many kind-hearted people are sending relief to the sufferers. The

managers of the Tung Wa Hospital, in Canton, havo also not been idie. On Monday last they hired two steam launches bo convey provisions ts the submerged villagers, and they havo opened subscription lists o?i behalf of the needy. It is reported alfo that the Viceroy has intimated to the perfect of Kwonfu and to the Kam Hoi and Pun U magistrates and military oillcers that hs will in the couisoofa few days personally iuspecfc all the place*, and that he finds the magistrates and military ofHcors and soldiers have uol co- operated to repair ihe breaches he will i&uspend the officers and line the magistrates. He exempts the magistrates from tho payment of the ur-ual travelling expenses winch officials uather at" every place they pas? through. Higher up the ri\w, abo\e Canton, at a place called Waiehow, disastrous Hoods .are also reported. In the toun of that name the water is* said to bo ten feet high. Shops, and house;* arc submerged, and the water ha& reached to within three feet of the top of tho walls ol the city. Nothing is said about the loss ot life at this place, but it may be eusih imagined that such a llood has not been wil hout victim^ and that the distress is gieat.