THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4350, 21 February 1893, Page 2

THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

Two New South Wales Towns FooM The Present State of Brisbane, Great Damage by the Second Flood Several Gases of Drowning. Starving People at Goodna. Sydnev, February 19. _ All the northern rivers are in a high state of flood. Communication with Grafton and Lisraore is suspended. When last beard from, the water was rushing through the principal thoroughfares of the former, while the whole of Lismore was flooded to the extent of several feet, [Lismore is situated on the northern arm of the Richmond river, about 40 miles south of the .Queensland boundary, and is the centre of a rich agricultural district, Its population is about 5000. Grafton is about 100 miles from the border, on the Clarence river, and some 80 miles from tho coast. It has a population oi Borne 4500, and is the cathedral city of tho diocese of Grafton and Armidale. The lands bordering on the Clarence river are among tho richest in New South Wales, producing sugar, tobacco, and other tropical crops, besides which there is an extensive pastoral district,-Ex-change.] _ In Brisbane people aro abandoning their residences and seeking high ground,

Brisbane, February 20. The floods yesterday almost reached tho leyel of tho preceding one. 0 Heavy rain fell on Saturday, accompanied by a terrible easterly gale, A fall of between eight and'ten inches was recorded in twelve hours. A large portion of the city and suburbs is again under water, Most of the business places in South Brisbane are submerged, and thero is water in many of the warehouses on the north side. The town was in darkness at night The Defence Force and the police combined to rescue life and property, Telegraphic communication is confined to'a few stations, The railway coal supply is almost exhausted, Thero is plenty on the south sido of the river but it is inaccessible,'

Most of the stations between Brisbane and Maryborough report from fiVO to eleven inches of rain,

Several cases of drowning Lave been reported, Tho gunboat Palumah anil other vessels stranded in tho Botanical gardens a fortnight ago were floated off by yesterday's flood, andaronow safely moored,

Ipswich is again inundated, and the public buildings are crowded with refugees, The scenes of distress are most pitiable,

| The railway at Toowoomba lias I been washed away, I Starving people, at Goodna, near ' Brisbane, were relieved by a boatload of provisions sent from Ipswich, Tlieflood at Toowoomba is reported to bo now subsiding. . 4 HMD named Oahill was swept awiy, and had his skull smashed by coming into contact with a bridge, jlhe Eclipse Colliery is again inuuWed, i