THE FLOODS IN QUEENSLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10048, 7 February 1896, Page 5

THE FLOODS IN QUEENSLAND.

Brisbane, February 6. Hatfield, owner of tho Fatton station, 1 with McLean, a youth named Nailor, and a black boy, were caught by tho flood while mustering cattle. After staying three dayj without food they attempted to swim a creek. Hatfield and McLean were drowned, Nailor was washed ashore a mile away, The black was washed off a horse on to a tree, and carried down several miles. Ho held on to the horse all the time, and was eventually saved. On reaching the homestead Nailor found Mrs. Hatfield flooded out, and camped on a ridge. The Rockhampton River continues to rise steadily, and is encroaching on tho streets. Many peoplo are leaving their houses. CHARGE OF BRIBERY. Melbourne, February 0. The former Board of Inquiry has resumed its sittings in the first charge against Bear, Rapiporb, and Baxter, that they accepted a bribe in a licensing cuso. The principal witness for the Crown, Gilbert Smith, who was recently arrested at Perth on a charge of perjury, refused to give ovidenco. OfcheU witnesses, however, stated that bribes bad been given, but Rapiport and Baxter swore they never received a bribo, and that they did nob know the landlady of the hotel in question. Endeavours will be mado tc force Smith to giro evidence. RUSH TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA, Perth, February 6. No fower than 820 persona arrivod at Fra mantle yostorday. Owing to scarcity of lodgings, many hundreds were camped on the beach. Considerable apprehension is felt on account of the congested stato of the railway and telegraphic servicos. Ono suggestion to overcome, tho latter difficulty quickly is to lay a cable bebwoen Albaat and Adelaide. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. Adelaide, February 6. The Stato Advances to Settlers Act cam!J into operation on the Ist instant. Tha Government yesterday appointed tho follow* ing trustees Messrs. Addison, Spence, Johnson, Inglis, and Staunton. The firs!) three are interested in commercial and the others are country farmers. THE COMMERCIAL BANK. Melbourne, February 6At a meeting of tho shareholders of tha Commercial Bank, the Chairman eaid tho disappointing amount of profits was largely duo to the legacy of 4J per cent, deposits created under the ro-construction scheme. Ib was impossible to continue to pay such a big interest, and tho directors had decided to consult the depositors forthwith, asking them to agreo to modify the conditions and reduce tho interest. The report win adopted. —