DISASTROUS STORM IN QUEENSLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1545, 27 January 1887, Page 4

DISASTROUS STORM IN QUEENSLAND.

BkibbANE, January 24. Heavy storms were experienced in this city and neighborhood, accompanied by a Jeluge, Railway oummunioation was partly impended, and tome damage was caused to shipping. , _ During the storms experienced in tmi city on Thursday and Friday laafc oyer 20in. of rain fell, 17 of whioh fell on Friday. This ia the heaviest rainfall which has been known for twenty-five years. The wharves of the river have been: flooded, and an immense amount of damage has been done to the goods which were lying thereon. A large quantity of timber has been carried down the river. Howard, Smith and Sons succeeded in removing the bulk of their goods to places of safety. The cellars of stores in the vicinity of the river have been flooded to the extent of several feet: Immense lakes formed in different parts of the suburbs. On one estate eight houses were raised from their foundations and floated away. The residents took to boats and rafts, in order to escape. The furniture in many of the houses was washed away or broken to pieoes by the force of the water. The ohief sufferers were the poorer inhab itacts, whose houses were situated on the lower parts of the town. The police rendered valuable assistance, in many cases swimming to the relief of the sufferers. Five deaths from drowning are already reported in Brisbane and its vioinity, and many other persons were seriously injured. The greatest difficulty bal been experienced in conveying provisions to many of the houses in the suburbs, oome of whioh are entirely isolated by the water. Goods which were stored iu the suburbs have been completely destroyed. The rain ceased on Saturday, and on Sun* day no rain fell, though the weather looked threatening. In the townships in whioh the rainfall was equal to that of Brisbane it is reported there are fifteen feet of water in the principal streets. Telegraph communication has been interrupted until to-day Mr Griffiths, the Premier, who started overland from Ipswich to this city, was com polled to return to Ipswloh, whioh he reaohed with the greatest difficulty. AH shipping fcraffio has been postponed in consequence of the weather outside the heads. The traffic in the town and suburbs has been entirely suspended. Mr Wraggo, the Government Astronomer, has given warning of a oyolone, which is likely to extend to central Queensland. Jan. 25. The police resoued hundreds of parsons out off by the floods, and did so despite darkness and a heavy gale blowing. Several people are still missing. Communication with the suburbs is now chiefly by boats aoross the flood waters. During the gale two steamers broke from their moorings, One went ashore.' At Warwick the river rose thirty feet, and there were four feet of water in the Government offioes: Thoutandi of sheep were drowned on Canning Downs, Toolburra, and other stations. Howard-Smith and Son's 8.8. Barrabool washed ashore in Brisbane river to-day. The boat whioh was lowered from the vessel swamped, and two of the oooupants were drowned. The Barrabool has since been floated off without damage.