Is Australia Drought-Stricken?

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 168, 21 July 1908, Page 5

Is Australia DroughtStricken?

In the July issue of Australia's leading sixpenny magazine, " Life." a writer explodes the idea that a great part of the back-country of Queensland is a droughty waste, and. ventures the opinion that if much of the alleged arid country of Australia were properly explored, it would be found that there is sufficient natural water supply to make the bulk of this sb called desert blossom as the rose. In support of his thtory he takes the Jordan River, and with pen and camera gives a remarkably I interesting geography lesson to Australians on Australia. Charles Barrett, the well-known Nature- writer, takes another part of Queensland, and m a -finely-illustrated, article depicts the fight for life m the Big Scrub. One of the photographs accompanying this article is that of a rifle-bird's nest, decorated with yards and yards of snake skins, and is of exceptional value, not merely as a specimen, but m hard cash. It was the first of its kind ever taken, and was one of the results of an expedition sent out at considerable expense to secure it. Among other special articles m the same (Julyl issue of " Life " are Dr Fitcheti's continued story of the first and only Australian revolution ; a thrilling ohapter from the story of the famous Guides, and a red-hot article by "X.Y.Z." on what is termed *• The Thrice-Exposed Imposture of Theosophy." / The editor* policy of ,' making '"Life I ', strong m fiction ig maintained. All sorts of questions of tho moment are discussed, .md inanv curious photographs su[ plied by readers are printed. j In its regular departments, dealing with the politics, the science, sport, literature, and business of the hour, " Life "is better than ever. Indeed, the claim of the publisher that the July issue of *' JUife " is "the best yet," seems justified. At all events, it is an abundant sixpence-worth. {