THE DROUGHT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 7, 9 January 1908, Page 4

THE DROUGHT.

SUFFERING CANTERBURY

THINGS BECOMING SERIOUS

[press association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 9. The drought has reached the stage of being a very severe menace to the prosperity of the farmers. The harvest is in full swing, but the yield is very light on the light land, though heavier on the heavier soils.

The greatest fear is for the feed, and the prospects for the winter are discouraging, as this is the second dry season in succession. A shortage of feed would cause an over-suppl7 in the sheep and lamb market and a consequent drop in prices, which would be a severe loss to the farmers in the present state of prices. The firmness of yesterday's wool sales, however, may be counted as compensation, and as the crop is not now, as in former years, the farmers' sole reliance, the general prosperity of the district will not be dangerously affected.