BREAKING OF DROUGHT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16806, 20 November 1928, Page 4

BREAKING OF DROUGHT

RAIN IN QUEENSLAND

RELIEF TO PASTORALISTS Some details of the rainfalls which have broken the drought in portions of Queensland are contained in the Australian papers. A message from Longreach, in the central-west portion of tiie State, says; that excellent relief rains fell all around there on November 3, and it was still raining in- most places on the following day. A largo section of tho country, however, received falls of less than aii inch, which will be of little benelit unless followed by other falls. News from Arnlalah Down and the Thompson River was that it was raining heavily there. A report from tho Gulf states that a monsoonal disturbance is coming in from the Indian Ocean, and that if it were not diverted extensive rains will fall in the north-west and central-west. Many pastoral properties reported over three inches of rain. At Charlesvillei the rain covered a wide area, but it was not sufficient to completely break up the drought. In the Ingham area, however, tho dry spell has been effectively broken. The Ayr, Bundaberg, and Gladstone districts also report heavy falls. Tho timely rain revived many of tho early sown wheat crops, and it appears that tho harvest will now probably be 2,500,000 bushels, against nearly 4,000,000 bushels last year. A dry spell during the growing season has produced two distinct crops this year. One is now being harvested, and the other is still in the green. Seldom has tho difference between early and late sown; paddocks been so marked as this season. While tho first harvest will average five or six bags to the acre, it is doubtful whether the second will average more than, nine or ten bushels. Early sown wheat had the initial advantage of an abundance of moisture in the subsoil, and where the ground had been well cultivated the wheat withstood the dry weather. The later wheat also commenced well, but it did not make sufficient growth to Jwithstandi drought conditions. Sound, full grain, free from disease, is the general result of early sowing this year. About half the crop had the benefit of the better conditions. The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Mr. J. W. Bleakley, has returned to Brisbane after a five months' visit to Central Australia and the Northern Territory. He said that his task had been made more difficult owing to the severe drought that prevailed over much of tho country he visited. In Western Queensland all the grass he saw could have; been put into one's pocket. Everywhere adjacent to the track Were dead cattle, sheep, horses, goats and kangaroos. The Northern Tterritory was also dry, and the section of the tableland over which ho passed was absolutely baked. Just before he left Darwin, however, light rain, ranging up to two inches, had fallen in the Northern Territory, giving some relief.