DROUGHT BROKEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19067, 12 January 1924, Page 5

DROUGHT BROKEN.

WELCOME BAIN IN NEW SOUTH WALES. (Fbom Opb Own Correspondent.! SYDNEY, January 3 The man on the land wished for- no hotter Christmas box than the bountiful rains which have recently fallen, and which have, beyond all doubt, broken the dry spoil. Even Christmas Day itself was not immune from rain—a condition of affairs contrasting strikingly with the previous Christmas Day. when the community, or at least those not engaged in landing out bush fires, spent the greater part, of the day in trying to refresh throats as dry as blotting pads, so torrid was the heat. Tf rain had not fallen in some of (he northern and central western districts of New South Wales the position would have been very serious. The effect of the falls in the north-west and central west, will be to ■make a good growth in tho pastures, and thus relieve pastoralists from (he long hills which they have, had to meet, for feed for the Past few months. In some, centres, where (here have been dry seasons for three years, the rai/i will he of inestimable value. On the North Coast, the pastures are already assuming sueh an appearance ns to anenr well for the dairying industry. While, however, (he rain is an nnmixed blessing in the north prolonged rain in the southern parts of the State is likely to lie viewed with disquiet h v wheat -growers and m-ehardists. Tn the main wheat areas I lie falls have not, been over half an inch durum the present, rains. Generally, the rain lias had splendid effects. The benignity of Nature could not, have Iteen heller expressed os sueh a season as this.