NEW SOUTH WALES

Otago Witness, Issue 2730, 11 July 1906, Page 9

NEW SOUTH WALES

_ Sydney, June 8. Taking tbe May returns for the whole State, the rainfall was above the average over the whole of the Western Division and Riverina (excepting the far north-west corner, Tibooburra and Milparinka, which were below). East of longitude 149deg, however, with one or two exceptions — viz., on the far north coast and round Sydney and Newcastle, the rainfall was very much below the average. The result is that the_ Western Division of Riverina is enjoying a splendid season with abundance of feed and water. The Riverina is in particularly good fettle. Lambing is in full swing, the sheep are in excellent condition, and a big drop of lambs is expected. The weather keeps mild, and little winter has been experienced up to the present.

Inquiries among the wheat buyers go to show that the area under wheat will not be any larger this year than last year, that the return from the north and north r west will be bad, and that the rabbits are destroying the crops in many places as fast as they come up. A wire in the daily papers from Narrabri last week is significant: — "Rabbits are reported to be causing great destruction on farms about Gulah and Deep Creek. As soon as the wheat shows above ground it is absolutely mowed down by them. Those who cannot manage to net their farms expect little or no crops this season."

The area under wheat round Narromine will be below that of last year. The largest farmer in the district is only sowing half this year, and some others even less than that. The stock inspector for the district reports an all-round falling-orr in area planted of one-third. This is largely owing to the fear of the rabbits, which are breeding up freely. However, the wheat crops in the real wheat-growing district between the Macquarie and the Murray are in grand condition. The price of fat stock keeps high. At a recent Homebush sale merino wethers made up to 21s sd, and a number of other sales were effected at over £1 a head, ewes ma-king over 17s in instances. Cattle also kept high at the same sale ; bullocks made up to £13 17s 6d.

The Customs returns of the principal articles of export during tbe five months of the present year compare with those for the corresponding period in 1905 as follows: — Jan.-ilay, Jan.-May, 1905. 1906. "Wool, bales 167,694 232,758 Skins, packages .. .. 6.128 13,217 Hides, No 43,278 39,649 Tallow, casks 11,046 3,5,907 Leather, packages .. .. 3,439 3 500 Preserved meat, cases .. 17,968 14,974 Frozen mutton, carcases 102,721 335,807 Frozen b&ef, pieces .. 3,182 16,677 Hoofs and bones, cwt. .. 2,604 3.960 Horns, No 330,442 431,350 Hares and rabbits, pairs — 978,887 Butter, boxes 148,649 188,821