AUSTRALIAN FLOODS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5658, 11 March 1893, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN FLOODS.

— « . (Per Elkcxuic Tbikgbaph— Copybight.) (Pfiß PrEBl ASSOCIATION.) (Received noon, March 10th.) Newcastle, March 10. A large portion of Weat Maitland ia under water, and many hundreds of people are homeless. News from up the river states that the river has risen 49 feet, and is still rising. The greatest flood ever known here is expeoted. At Brannston two brothers named Russell and a man named Howitt were drowned. Two men, Hunt and Wall, were drowned at Leith, and a man named Kuhn perished at Raymond Terrace. A steamer, believed to be the Federal from Melbourne, is ashore at Stockton about a mile from Newcastle on the northern side of the harbour. A lifeboat and tug are standing by her. (Eeoeived 1.30 a.m. Match 11th.) The water is up to the eaves of the houses near Raymond Terrace, and a steamer with boats has been despatched to rescue the inhabitants, many of whom were clinging to the roofs. The rescue parties brought back three hundred. The pubiic buildings are crowded and provisioDs are scarce. Nearly all the farmers have loßt their live stock. All the collieries have been obliged to atop work, and between three and four thousand miners are thrown out of employment. All communication with Maitland is cut off. Winter's large agricultural works were washed away. (BY riLBQKAFH.) WELLINGTON, Maboh 10. The amount collected m Wellington for Brisbane to far is £917, bat no special effort has been made m the way of canvassing and the amount is the result of purely voluntary •übacriptions. There are still some eums to come m from the local bodies, but to all appaaranoei at present the total wijl cot more than reaoh £1000. OHKISTOHCROH, Maboh 10. The total amount oolleoted for the Queensland Fund to date is £1685. The amount railed at the demonstration yesterday was £52 8t 6dj with a few receipts to come, m.