DROUGHT-RIDDEN AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7416, 30 May 1902, Page 2

DROUGHT-RIDDEN AUSTRALIA.

The infancy of the Commonwealth. i« being chequered 'by one of the worst droughts in the history of Australia. The news received at intervals during the past few (months has indicated that the situation is steadily growing^ worse, and latest reports show that it is desperate. The speakers -who took part in a meeting held in Sydney yesterday to consider the position painted a fearful picture of the widespread! distress caused 'by the want of rain, and there is no reason to suppose that they overcoloured it. Unfortunately thei£ remarks are confirmed in detail by tie reports from, the afflicted districts themselves. From every State, indeed, comes the same pitiful tale of waterless rivers, dry creeks, dead and dying stock and ruined settlers. In some parts of the country the earth is bo dry that the eucalyptus, that dweller in waterless wastes, is dying; of thirst. Under these circumstances it is not surprising that the Press and people of. the Commonwealth are viewing the future with the gravest apprehension. The drought has already killed thousands of sheep and cattle and mined: hundreds of people, but tfhese numbers •will seem insignificant compared with the tribute which it will exact if it continues much longer. Instead of 'hundreds and thousands it will number its victims 'by thousands and tens of thousands. We shrink indeed from a computation of -the losses which another few months of drought will entail upon the

Commonwealth. They may not be heavy enough to stagger the financial world, but they will bo sufficiently great to place a tremendous strain upon, the stability of the whole country and to curtail the spending powers of the people for some time to come. But we earnestly hope that this •crisis will not be reached. Rain, it is true, will not save Australia from serious- loss, but if it comes soon it Tjnll avert almost a national disaster.