OUTBACK RAINS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 9

OUTBACK RAINS

Vast Areas Flooded MELBOURNE. January 2. Rains in Australia’s northern outback have transformed tens of thousands of square miles of cattle and grazing country into a vast sea as unceasing rains bring the greatest early wet seasons to the Northern Territory in a decade. Flooded rivers have cut railway lines and generally disrupted transportation of supplies to outback areas, but cattlemen are certain that the heavy rains will be of tremendous value to their industry. South-eastern States are enjoying fine, warm weather after nearly two weeks of stifling heatwaves. The hot'humid weather which brought 100-degree temperatures to Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne, gave way at the week-end to a brisk cool change which the weather bureau expects will prevail for some days. Outback pilots today described the huge .rain-soaked Northern Territory as a vast inland sea. Falls over areas from the Barkly Tablelands and fringing Arnhem Land give these districts more than II inches of rain since December 23. The rain has enveloped the territory between Tennant Creek and Darwin to the Queensland border.