INTER-COLONIAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 111, 24 March 1870, Page 6

INTER-COLONIAL.

The " Melbourne Age," in an article on cheap telegrams, alluding to- the result of the late reduction to one sinling for 10 words, says : — "Immediately the reduction in the rate Avas made, the number of messages began to increase at a suprising ratio, far exceeding the most sanguine anticipations. During the past month no less than 11,055 messages Avere received at the Melbourne office, and 7,239 transmitted, bringing up the month's total to 18,302. This compared with the same month of last year, presents the folloAving significant facts : — The increase in tho number of messages received was 4,397, and in the number transmitted 1,177, showing a total increase of 5,67-1 messages in the month. Not only this, but there in also a very marked improvement in the number in January, 1869, being 2.233, and in last month 3,484, showing an increase of 799. On Monday, 7th ult., at midnight, a disastrous flood suddenly swept over Clermont, on the Peak Downs, Queensland, drowning several persons, and carrying away houses, fences, furniture, and stock. Within an hour there was a stream nearly five feet deep running at the rate of eight or nine miles an hoar through the township. It Avas caused by Sandy Creek overflowing. Seven persons are known to have been drowned. The affrighted inhabitants rushed to the trees and housetops for shelter, and the cries of distress from women and children were most heartrending. When the water subsided the scene was very appaling. Dr. Benson's surgery and laboratory, Avith medicines and instruments, Aveoe swept entirely away, not a vestige remaining to mark tho place. One family escaped by sitting on a crossbeam in a cottage. A kitchen near the Telegraph Office, with three inmates, avrs carried aAvay, and the bodies were afterwards recoverd. Mr. Busacottc, the proprietor of the "Peak Downs Telegram," Avith one compositor, escaped drowning by climbing a tree at the end of the print-ing-office, whilst the type and plant were carried down the stream. The municipal office and new bridge are both gone. Mr. Rimer's cottage was carried across the yard. All the outbuildings in tho town are destroyed, and scarcely a rod of fencing is left standing. The total damage to property is estimated at LIO,OOO. The names of the deceased as far as known are William Williams, wife and children, Lewis Hickey, Rosine Elliott. Another body, name unknown, was seen floating down the creek. In addition to these losses, thousands of sheep have been carried off by the floods. Business is paralysed. The heaviest losers are Messrs Benson, Palmer, Winter, and Lea and Lavat. At the Peak Downs station five lives were lost; and at Lily vale four children were drowned, At' Bowen, a heavy cyclone occurred on the 29th aud 30th ult. It commenced at S. E. and veered round to N., with blinding rain. It did a good deal of damage in the town. Four houses were blown down, and many others Avere unroofed and stripped of verandahs. A man named Jackson was killed by his house falling, and his wife was injured. The Black Prince sailed before the gale, but returned safely. There has been more damage done than in the cyclone of 1867. We learn from the Melbourne papers that it is the intention of the Government of Tasmania to urge upon the Governments of the other Australian colonies the propriety of holding a conference on the best means of establishing free trade in the interchange of colonial products, the conference to be held in April or May, in the place that may be fixed upon, as most convenient. Mr. Chapman, the Colonial Treasurer of Tasmania, takes a very wara* interest in the movement, and is anxious that a beginning should be made as quickly as possible by two or three of the colonies, even though the others should hold aloof. Mr. Randall, of South Australia, has just returned from Tasmania, and is about to proceed to New Zealand, where he intends to ascertain the views of the leading colonists on the same subject.