DROUGHT AT BROKEN HILL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 149, 24 June 1903, Page 5

DROUGHT AT BROKEN HILL.

SERIOUS OUTLOOK

ORGANISING RELIEF.

SYDNEY, June 23

The South Australian Government has arranged to begin to-morrow delivering , 100,000 gallons of water at Broken Hill weekly. Next week this . will be increased to 200,000. failing other sources. An effort is also being made to have the supply augmented for steaming purposes in connection with the mines. The mining companies have notified the contractors that owing to the want of water contracts for delivery are suspended till the end of the month.

At Broken Hill the Stephen's Creek water supply gave out suddenly to-day, and operations at all the mines along the line of the lode, excepting the British, which will probably close to-mor-row, have ceased. The Proprietary Company is arranging to obtain a supply from other sources. It is hoped the mines will restart in a few days, meantime underground work will be kept going. There is still sufficient water available for a fortnight for domestic purposes.

The first train from South Australia, supplied under arrangement with the New South Wales Government, starts to-morrow. The cost is to be 37/G per 1000 gallons. The New South Wales Government has telegraphed to the Departmental officer at Barrier to make all arrangements against famine. The closing of the mines has rendered idle 5000 men.

Should the Proprietary Company be able to restart there will still be between 2000 and 3000 men idle. The town presents a deserted appearance, and is in partial darkness owing to the greatly reduced electric 'lighting. A correspondent says whisky drinkers are giving assistance in preserving the precious fluid by taking their liquor unwatered. The opinion is freely expressed that now the mines are closed several will not be reopened until the price of lead improves. The rain-making Experiments so far have proved unavailing. The weather to-night is cloudy.

(Received 10.2 a.m.)

SYDNEY, this day.

A special meeting of the Cabinet was ■held to-day to discuss the Broken Hill water famine. Meantime the Government has asked the local Town Council to form a water supply committee to assist the Government officials in maintaining a domestic supply.

The Government trains are kept running in obtaining the supply from the Silverton dam. The engineer at Stephen's creek explains that a sudden stoppage caused the town service to run dry, and hopes that when the auxiliary pumps have started the whole will be able to supply the mines, though it will be doubtful. :

A train bringing 30,000 gallons of water is expected from South Australia this morning. The Government has given instructions not to supply any of this water above domestic requirements to the mines for a day or two, until the actual position has been denned. Several mines for the time being will keep on a number of men at Government prospecting work, which will reduce the number of those idle to some extent. The Central mine dry magnetic mine plant is not affected. The stoppage will have a serious effect on trade in Adelaide as regards both "the demand for supplies ami »Wppi»S vf ore. _,;... y .