AUSTRALIAN DROUGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19813, 3 December 1919, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN DROUGHT.

- HEAVY RAINS FALLINC. By Telegraph— Press A««ociation— Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cnb!«. Arnocifttion. (RecoivedD ecomber 3, 10.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 3. I'urther henry rains have fallen iii tho eastern parts of the State nnrl there are indications of extensive rain to the. far west. The Government Meteorologist states that thero is every reason to believe that tbe drought will be broken this month and will be followed by good supplementary rains. (A prominent stationowncr in tho north-west of A'ew South Wales, describing the situation there, said'ihab tho usual early siunmcr thunderstorms na.rl nut been experienced, and tho greater area of tho upper wast was absolutely bare of feed. Much ot the land would have to be abandoned, lbs own station was practically deserted. He had had to travel tho tew sheep he had left over 150 miles near Broken Hill to have them shorn, and many of them had died on the. way. Ho had lost 32.000 sheen that year alone. " The drought," he proceeded, '-really started in this portion ot the country about three years ago and the affected area extends from just north of Broken Hill right through to Worn Queensland, and from th Darling to far over the South Austrt l'»n. border. Tho drought of S vvas not a patch on the present one ceivcible. A huge area has been absolutely ruined, and. it will lake *S ?? r AV?^ e i cowr ' if ifc evcr doc *- t tho feed grows !i ran we win fare tho sto?k. Moro "iJn one m\ n lins been flattened out already and situation will become, even more terrible, and over oven a center area and there is roallv notlun- }S f J I^ r . ton '» "art* of tho Bathurst distnrt, owing to £ drought. Such a high rate lm been •mknown for about thirty.five rears Horse-owners cannot c i ve theiranim^ ic-s iisohil mid older class as the onlv a ornativ<. to allowme thorn to starve Almost everywhere 7™ prepared to hand over workW'VS