THE DROUGHT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume 2990, Issue XL, 24 April 1884, Page 3

THE DROUGHT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

The following' letter from "An Old Traveller " appears m a recent Australasian : — Sir — In tho widely read columns of your journal aro to be found ably written descriptions of many lands, those signed " Vagabond " and " Bruni " boing especially conspicuous aa giving many thousands of your renders a better knowledge of other countries than they huve of their own. But, Sir, I think even the ability of these writers would be taxed to the utmost to give an accurate description of Australia to-day. Tho knowledge gained of the interior has proved that Australia is classed too high. Tbisi will be understood when it is more generally known that one of tho periodical droughts that so regu'nrly visit almost, all the colonies at pretty regular intervals, but is certain to visit th.o interior with the utmost regularity, is extending over a large 'part of the interior just now, bringing m its train ruin to so many, with a great loss to all, with all the miseries of a terribly lingering death to thousandd of stock from pure starvation. It is of my own colony of South Australia, so noted for ita droughtß and dry seasons, that I can speak with the confidence born of a perfect knowledge of both country and seasons. The normal condition of the inland districts of South Australia just varies botween droughts partial and droughts completo, and at this time it is drought completo to all the country except a Rtrip running parallel with the sea coast, and extending but v few miles inland. One day's journey from any point on the coast will prove this to any traveller who will take the trouble to go a few miles to sco where tho drought fiend reigns supreme, and whore no inhabited country on tho globe is m a wotbb Btate to-day ; whore stock can bo seen m all stages of wretchedness, tho effect of sheer starvation — poor wretches lingering, dying, and dead, and tho owners looking on, being powerless to do anything to avert their own ruin by saving the stock. As they have no escape, they are doomed to stand or fall whore thuy aro. In former times when these droughts came, the interior man could and did travel his utock to where rain had fallen, and either arrange with some runholder near the se» to feed hi« stock till rain did again visit his own holding, or soil, and purchase others to stook when the country would admit of that being done ; or, as many did, clear out of the country altogether. This was an old programme, played many times, and it would still be tho custom ; but tho dedire oarao upon the people that this should be a groat wheat-growing land. Ho many million acres of runs were rosurned, thus killing at one blow both what was known as the insidn country and tho outsiders too. As the holders were driven off their runs they could not only not help themselves, many being ruined, but could no linger help the outsider by relieving him of his stock. Whon the drought oamo, as it was suro to come — m fact, oh it has come now, and from which now there m no escape, an these resumptions have blocked up tho country for travelling stock — tho first result of the reiiumptions wua tho total death-blow to the pastoral interns!., and the total ruin to many engaged m that business. Tho second result was the colony having to import meat for pooplo tc oat, as that could bn no longer producei' m tho colony. Tho third result of tin iniquitous system that obtained at tin time was the total failure to grow when without rain. Tho fourth roßult, m enormous increase to tho public dobt ■• without one particle of permanent boueQ

to any one. Whoa theso landu were being reßtimod, it was pointed out to the Government by those who knsw the country, that it was far too dry, and tlmt the rain that did fall was too unoertain, both m quantity and time of falling, to be relied on, but the answer wa3 rfady : — .Run will follow the plough. This cry became what was known as the Parliamentary religion, or farmer's faith ; and those who did not subscribe to this faith \7erocallod croakers — a word invented and used at North-terra.ee. Well, rain did not follow the plough into the cry districts of the colony, but ruin did to hundreds who were lieak enough to believe the crie.l thut the South Australian Parliament tried no hard to establish as an article of faith throughout the colony m the vain attempt to carry agriculture beyond the limits of rainfall. One interest was pulled down on purpose to build another up on its ruins. Our members of Parliament's only excuse is that they woro as ignorant of the olimato and land of the interior as they were of making suitable laws by which the country may havo been benefited, and the only thing they have taught the people to know is that the colony of South Australia is one of the most overrated places or count lies m the world to-day, as any visitor may sea by a very little travel over the drought-strickan hind, with its duststorms, not to be beaten, if equalled, m the world. While the Press of this colony is filled with items (if news of tho other colonies, it is absolui ely silent about all but what concerns one part of tho community m their own. Why is this so 1 Can tho Proas of tlie colony bo ignorant of what concerns so mnny, or is there another motive for silence on what 13 of such vital importance as the ivolfare of a whole country and people '?