SOAKING RAINS IN AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16883, 10 July 1920, Page 6

SOAKING RAINS IN AUSTRALIA.

"WORTH TEN MIT.TJOK A DAY."

'from om OWN COr.KESPONniNT.) SYDNEY, Juno 29

Practically the whole of Australia south cf the tropical lino'i* being bathed in soaking rains. The long-exist-ing drought conditions practically came to"an end three weeks ago, with a series oj steady drenching shower-. Bu: this was not, enough to gild the future. If a further dry spell supervened, it meant that the'accumulated moisture would presently disappear, and the drought conditions return. The •'typical" Australian story must always introduce a scene in which the despairing family of the squatter is suddenly galvanised to life and exuberant icy In- the sound of a downpour on the iron roof; but this is far from the fact. The sharp, heavy downpour cocs not break the drought. 'lhe drought is broken by a series of rains, so that the country gradually becomes thoroughly capable of withstanding the absence of rain for a long period. But the pr„£.-ent drought, which, in many places." bad been of two years' duration, lias been broken thoroughly and completely. The showers of three weeks ago have been followed almost daily by tremendous soaking downpours, extending over the south of Queensland, tbe whole of New South Wales and Victoria, and most cf South and AYest Australia. Mere figures cannot convey what this means to Australia. "It's been worth ton millions a day to us> for three weeks, - ' said one chuckling landowner —and it is not an unreasonable estimate. The rains have come just in time to ensure that the coining season shall be a bounteous one. With the whole world clamouring for practically everything wo can produce, with our own markets short of essential foodstuffs, it is certain that every producer is going to make a bid for jortune. It does not mattel- now if there is a lonjr spell of drv weather—enough rain has fallen to "soak the soil and fill Nature's reservoirs, and the stock and the crops of the coming season are safe. The ram was just in time to give the wheat farmers the chance they wanted. They are guaranteed 7s 6d per bushel—and there is going to be a record sowing. • It is an ideal rain, not accompanied by harsh southern wind. The meteorologists say that a high pressure has swept, down from the north,'and, meeting Antarctic influences over Austrahas precipitated moisture in the shape of rain. Australia is bathed in warm air, and reports from every quarter' tell of sprouting grass and green young crops where, for months and years,'there has been only. desert. The meteorologists add that ''a rain groove" appears to have been made over Australia, which wi.U cause much more rain. Whereupon Australia cheers. There are reports to-day of floods in many places—of stock being drowned, bridges washed away, train services disorganised, low-lying tracts under water. This is a mere bagatelle compared with the disaster that has been averted in the breaking of the drought —and Australia continues to rejoice. ISFECLAL TO "THE PRESS.") DUNEDIN, July n. That the recent, floods in Sou til Wales were extensive a nd of a disastrousnature is shown by the reports leceived from the officers of the steamer Katoa, which arrived at Dunedin last evening from Newcastle. The Katoa was [at Newcastle for three days, and torrential rain fell continually throughout that period. The downpour was very heavy in the country, and the Hunter river was soon in high flood. Stock suffered to a large extent, as in addition to trees, timber, and an abundance of debris, dead carcases of sheep and cattle floated down the river and were carried out to sea. The Katoa left Newcastle last Saturday morning, and steamed for some, time through a. mass of floating trees arid timber. This debris.extended for a distance of alxmt six miles out to sea. so that some idea could bo gained of the large quantity of material which was washed down districts bv the flood waters.