THE DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1997, 26 November 1888, Page 2

THE DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA

4 TBII TRESS ASSOCIATION Brisbane, November 24, There is a water famine at Charters Towers, It is expected the schools will be fifll closed m consequence. Distressing accounts of the drought reach the city from the country districts. Sydney, November 24. Fourteen hundred bags of New Zealand wheat hare been sold at 4s 8d to 5s 6d per bushel. Famine prices prevail m country districts. At Hay the temperature reached 104 m the shade. Ten deaths have occurred from heat m the last two days. The whole country is a mass of fire. In some inland towus the smoke is bo thick the sun has not been seen for days. Large bush fires near the town have enveloped the whole place m smoke, and vessels bound for Port Jackson have been unable to make land. The weather is very hot, and several cases of persons struck down are reported. One case to-day resulted fatally. MELBOTJKNR. November 26 The prospect of the Victorian harvest is gloomy except at Gippsland and the Western districts. The barley crops are a partial and oats a total failure ,m the whole of the Northern district. Watercourses are drying up, and water has to be carried many miles. The present prospect shows that the colony is unable to produce more than will supply her own wants; The heat is 101 m shade. Two deaths are reported from sunstroke at Horsham. Adelaide, November 24 Excessive heat was experienced here to-day. The glass was 105 m the shade.