GLORIOUS RAIN.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1929, Page 6

GLORIOUS RAIN.

A PHENOMENON

CHILDREN TER R IFI E 1)

i SYDNEY, January 17

New Zealanders, “so used to rain, will find it difficult to realise that anywhere in the world children can grow to five year’s of age without experiencing a downfall. But such a thing can happen in Australia, as witness the following message from Cloneurry, in Western Queensland published in Kydnev on Saturday, last:

“To-day in Western Queensland there are many children,, four and live years’ old- who are scein’g niin for the first time in their lives. it clatters on the iron roofs they are terrified; the ,souj«l is foreign to them. Rut to their parents the tattoo is the sweetest music in the world. After six years ot drought, rain is falling, and throughout a vast stretch of country the people are mad with joy. In their delirious adandon they have stood in the:open laughing, and they have become drenched to the skill, just to feel once again t-lie almost forgotten touch of pure Water from Heaven.” \

Later messages have indicated that many of the rivers in Northern Queensland arc in flood, some of them for the first time in ten years. Vast areas o' countrv have been inundated, trains have been blocked, roads have been impassible. But who cares? Certainly nobody in Western Queensland. .More *-nin fell in Cloneurry in one day last Saturday than fell in the town during the. previous ten years. The people became light-headed The excitement was greater than when the people wondered what had become of Bert Hinkler when he was on his record-breaking flight-, am]..bad been forced down in the desert before lie reached Cloneurry. As they watched the flooded roads the people cheered. They met on the street corners and their bright expressions revealed their inmost feelings. Business people wondered ;if tin* rain had extended to the adjoining districts an anxiously awaited reports, realising that rain meant life liquidation of many accounts and'a- prosperous few months ahead at least.

Then came the news that almost the whole of Western Queensland had had on the average about two inches ol rain, so the celebrations at Cloneurry were extended. Tt was realised that Ivrave battlers with fortunes had af last reaped their reward. 11l fact, the whole area- would take a new lease of life. Rain ! For six years they had waited for it. Every year for six years the rainy season had passed without a drop of rain falling. There were those who could not “stick it out.” They had 'departed leaving behind them their ruined holdings. Others with stouter hearts.and more settled finances had stayed on, wondering, most of them, how much longer they could last. And then came the rain.

Was it nnv wonder that the people of Cloneurry gave it a cheering welcome?