THE CANTON FLOODS.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 149, 25 June 1888, Page 5

THE CANTON FLOODS.

SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE SWEPT

AWAY AND DROWNED.

The Hongkong " Mail" says : The native newspapers are full of accounts about disastrous floods that occurred about a week ago along the banks of the Canton river. At Fukling in the Tungkoon district several villages have been submerged and great damage done to property. It is difficult to ascertain from the somewhat vague reports of the native journals the exact extent of the loss of life. The number is spoken of as several hundreds, and from all accounts seems to be pretty large. Governor Ng left Canton a few days ago to inspect the place where tbe flood occurred, and the Oi Yuk Sin Tong, a hospital ab Canton, and many kind-hearted people are sending relief to the sufferers. The managers of the Tung W 7a Hospital, inCanton, have also not been idie. On Monday last they hired two steam launches to convey provisions ts the submerged villagers, and they have opened subscription lists on behalf of the needy. • It is reported also that the Viceroy has intimated to the perfect of Kwonfu and to the Nam Hoi and Pun U magistrates and military officers that hs will in the course of a few days personally inspect all

the places, and that he finds the magistrates and military officers and soldiers have nob co-operated to repair the breaches he will suspend the officers and fane the magistrates. He exempts the magistrates from the payment of the usual travelling expenses which officials gather at every place they pass through. Higher up the river, above Canton, at a place called Waichow,_ disastrous floods are also reported. in the town of that M mc the water is said to be ten feet hio-h. Shops and houses aro submerged, and the water has reached to within three feet of the top of the walls of the city. Nothing is said about the loss of life at this place, but it may be easily imagined thab such a flood has not been without victims, and that the distress is great.