REVIEW OF THE PASTORAL SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 6

REVIEW OF THE PASTORAL SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA.

(PastoralisW Review.) VICTORIA.

Melbourne, September 13. The past month has been all that could be desired for the crops and grass, constant showers and genial weather improving the piospects of the northern districts, where the dry winter has caused considerable apprehension regarding the coming* season. As it is a few heavier falls are wanted in that locality to fill the tanks and waterholes. We are having a splendid fall in Melbourne as we write. In all other parts of Vie-, toria. the rainfall has been sufficient, and in parts of Gippsland they hav&had far too much rain. The prospects generally for farmers and graziers are extremely good, though this is the time of year wher a few weeks of adverse weather alter materially the hopeful outlook, and the present is an anxioxis period. The caterpillar pest is a serious trouble in some districts, the rich western pastures being most affected, crops as yet being little molested. NEW SOUTH WALES,

Sydney, September 10. The month of August will not linger in the memory of pastoralists as a blessed period ill point of rainfall. Over nearly the whole colony the fall has been below the average. Over the bulk of the Eastern and Central divisions and the jßiverina, this has not greatly mattered, as they did not particularly need rains, and on the table lands further rains would not have done any good. Excepting Wentworth (150 points), Euston (116), Moulame (116), Booligal (128), and a part of the Riverina, the rains over the western half of the colony were again "sadly deficient, in many places tapering down to the depressing zero.

West of the Darling, and north of the Barwon (with a large strip or two on the eastern and southern sides of those rivers), the state of things is becoming appalling, and this, too, with shearing time on. Good spring rains may bring along the grass for summer, but on many t stations the sheep cannot now be caried any longer, and the eastward exodus of stock is commencing again. The cry goes up, "How long?" and one's heart aches by reason of the weary six years' "gruelling" those unfortunate western pastoralists have suffered.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA,

Adelaide, September 10. Throughout the settled districts and in patches of the outside pastoral country the weathei during the past four weeks has been favourable. August proved a seasonable month, and the continuous rains and absence of frost have helped the growing crops and herbage considerably. The total rainfall at

the Adelaide Observatory for the month of August was 3.95, the average for the previous 43 years being 2.34. We have to go back* as far as 1864 to find a wetter Ai'.gust as far r " as the Observatory records show. The showers,* were very general, and it is many years since t the country was looking so well as it is atf' the present time.' A leading grain merchant^' after an inspection of some of the . agricul^ tural areas, says he has not seen the crop's looking so well at any period during the lasfi 20 years, and with a fair September and October, he thinks the wheat yield should ayer lage 10 bushels per acre. Stockowners have secured a good supply of water, and feed 13 now coming on rapidly.