DROUGHT BREAKS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1463, 11 June 1912, Page 5

DROUGHT BREAKS.

HEAVY RAIN IN AUSTRALIA. WHEAT CROPS SAVED. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Rec. June 10, 9.5 p.m.) Sydney, June 10. The drought has fairly broken. Practically every station in tho State reports light to heavy rainfalls, and it is still raining. The fall has been heaviest in the Blue .Mountains, and up (o this morning Katoomba reported nearly five inches. Over tho wheat areas in tho Riverina. and elsewhere there had been up to two inches of rain, and on tho drought-stricken pastoral areas in tho west from half an inch to 21 inches. The position, so far as tho wheat crops are concerned, has been saved. Stock mortality will also be arrested, especially as the fall was accompanied by warm temperatures. • The rains caused great jubilation in tho oity, largo crowds watching the posting of the returns from tho drought areas. Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland report furthor general soaking rains. As a sot-off to a too optimistic view of the effect of tho rain, it is pointed out that the fall is somewhat lato to benefit the wheat fully and a big proportion of the lambs and many breeding sheep have already been killed by tho drought. If severe weather follows much of the stock which is in poor condition will succumb. It is possiblo that a strong demand for fcedsiuffs will continue to tide the farmers over until the grass grows. Sydney, June 10. Useful rains have fallen over a large portion of the State. The Riverina and Western districts have benefited. Brisbane, June 10. Danger of a drought has been banished for the present. There have been bountiful rains in the central districts and on the downs of Western Queensland. Adelaide, June 10. ■ Splendid rains have fallen in the 'northern districts.