THE DROUGHT IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1173, 7 April 1884, Page 3

THE DROUGHT IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

A telegram in the Age from Sydney gjiys : —The terrible effects of the drought from which the colony is now suffering cannot ho easily over-estimated and the outlook is the most gloomy the settlers have had to face for many autumns. Annidale reports that although no heavy disasters to stock have yet occurred in New England, tremendous loss is likely to ensue, in the winter, since the rain would be too late now to provide feed, and frosts have already set it. lamworth reports that at Nimdle the hod of the Peel River is dry. Narrabrl reports that the country is one brown, grassless waste; that the river is only a chain of holes filled with slimy, putrid water; that from 8000 to 12,000 carcasses of perished animals line Naomi between Pillima and Walgctt ; and that the season is said to be the severest ever experienced on the Liverpool Plains. Walgelt reports that fearful losses have taken place on the neighbouring stations, and that 600 carcases of cuttta in one river pool is an illustrative incident of the general disaster. Mungee reports that though in the immediate neighbourhood of the town the effects of the drought are not desperate, yet towards Castlcreagh there is not a blade of grass or a drop of water. Bathurst reports that the harvest has been short, and that the farmers cannot plough till the rain comes; that bush fires have destroyed much of the feed for stock ; that the Macquarie River has ceased running ; that the town water is of bad quality *, and that forage for the western team is at fabulous prices. Nyngan reports that the contractors for the railway extension to Bonrko have to despatch 12 trucks of water by train daily to the head of the line, and that the water is carted thence 40 miles to gangs working on ahead ; that all along the line may be seen the bodies of horses, cattle, sheep, dingoes, and emu ; that the slock are walking skeletons, and that one squatter killed 400 calves to save the cows, and then lost the cows, besides thousands of other cattle. Wilcannia reports that the loss of stock must amount to over 500,000 in that district alone; that the rainfall for 1883 was only eight inches ; and that the season is the worst ever experienced. Wentworth reports that though the fall of rain at the beginning of the month gave many stations two months supply, the condition of things up the Darling is very serious. Cattle, sheep, and horses arc dying in all directions. Wagga reports that the waterholes on the stock routes are fast becoming dried up, that there is not so much as a thistle on some of the runs, but that the pastoralists think the worst may be averted if rain comes within the next fortnight.