DISASTROUS FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2464, 14 February 1893, Page 1

DISASTROUS FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Bmsuane, Feb. 10. A large residence at Hillend was swept away, and it is believed the family perished. From Hillend to Stanley street whole terraces of streets and houses were demolished.

The South Brisbane gasometer capsized

The streets are covered several inches deep with foul-smelling mud. The people are almost heart-broken by the ruin in which the city is involved. The misery and suffering of the homeless are heart-rending. Women, besmeared with dirt and almost naked, trooped into the municipal buildings as soon as rooms were set apart for the supply of provisions. Many sensational escapes from death are reported. A man was standing on the river bank yesterday when it gave way and he was drowned before the very eyes of a crowd, who had to look lielplessly on. At Kangaroo Point on the south side of the river, nothing is left but piles of brick and iron. Sutton's foundry and shipbuilding yards, and Peacock's jam factory, are entirely destroyed. A large amount of looting is going on am<nig the wrecked and abandoned houses.

Some anxiety is felt about a large quantity of dynamite stowed down the river. A detachment of military is being despatched to destroy the damaged portion, xioughly estimaned the damage to pub'o and private property will amount to £2,000,000.

The Marquis of Ripon, Secretary of State for the Colonies, has cabled hia regret at the disaster. A relief fund collected locally amounts to £3OOO. £ISOO has been subscribed at Rockhampton. Funds are being started in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Tremendous explosions were caused by compressed air in the mines at Gympie, in many eases wrecking the buildings at the mouth of the shafts. While the coast districts in the south are being devastated by floods the country between Rockhanipton and Barcaldine in the interior is in a serious condition owing to drought. Sixty-seven inches of rain fell in three days. A man named Hogan was washed six miles down the river. Eventually he managed to climb a tree, but he was so severely bitten by scorpins aud centipedes which had taken refuge in it that he died after reaching the shore. Feb. 12. Two boys named Robertson, were playing on the banks of the river when the ground gave way and carried them into the stream, where they perished.

It is estimated that £IO,OQO worth of damage has been dona to the powder magazine by the flood. Great expense will be incurred in removing the Government steamers, including the Pftlumahj.., from, the -Botanical Gardens.

The Government have distributed 2000 pairs of blankets and a large quantity of provisions among the distressed. Fif tytivo houses were washed away at Ferndale, and many narrow escapes from drowning are reported. Torrents of rain are again falling, and 4 inches were registered in three hours. Several houses in Stanley street, South Brisbane, are again surrounded by water. A hurricane, accompanied by a terrific rain -fall, has been experienced at Bundaberg, 260 miles north of Brisbane, and 4 inches of rain were recorded in ten hours. At Ipswich also there was a heavy rainfall, and the Brisbane river is rising 2 feet G inches per hour, Painful scenea have taken place at the Eclipse mine, where several miners are entombed by the rushing water and the wivea of the perished miners are endeavouring to dig through the mine. The Government have received sympathetic telegrams from the Governments of New Zealand and other colonies.

London, F'eb. 12. The Premier has promised to move in Parliament for a grant in aid of the Queensland sufferers by the floods, if the details show the necessity.

Auckland, Feb. 11. The mayor has called a public meeting for Tuesday to consider the best means of relief for the sufferers by the Queensland floods.

Sydney, Feb. 12. The Clar^ ce r i ver i s in flood, and parts of Grn* J on are i nunc iated. It is feared \i\at the crops in the low-lying districts have been swept away, which means a loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds,