AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1592, 26 June 1903, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

CABLEGRAMS.

[PER UNITED PIiKSS ASSOCIATION] [BY KLECTRIO TH.KCißl?H—copyright]

THE WATER FAMINE. Sydney, June 25. ALTOGETHER over 561)0 men are idle nt Broken Hill. The Government has taken measures to relieve any cases of distress. Including smelting works and shipping interests in South Australia, 40,000 people are directly affeuted iu two States. i> The first water train arrived from South Australia yesterday, and the local Council took charge of selling it to the residents at a charge of 5s per 100 gallons. The Muuicipal Baths authorities have urged the construction of storage reservoirs. The borough engineer wires that there is still a supply of four million gallons in the town rebervoirs, and'it was expected to have auxiliary pumps ready last night, and to be able to reRuuic the supply to the town to-day, but no definite promise has been made. " Further rain-making experiments will bo made on an extensive scale tomurrow So far they have been quite a failure. The Proprietary Company has a fortnight's supply of ore at Port Pirie Smelting (Works. If these works are compelled to close 1200 men will be idle, besides 100 eneag-d in the shipment of ore and in the limestone qu :rnes. The Broken Hill rain-making experiments carried on by the local committee continuing fruitless, Dr. McCarthy's reduced his offer to produce three incnes of rain in three weeks if guaranteed £SOO, with £IOO to cover expenses. This has been accepted. Dr. McCarthy reaehes Broken Hill on Saturday morning. He will be paid pro rata if he produces a smaller quantity and only travelling expenses if he fails. At a large public meeting resolutions were carried condemning the Government for not taking timely steps to avert the long threatened water famine, ind requesting it to provide a supply to keep the mines going. The mines still manage to keep up steam tor necessary maintenance work.