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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1229, 23 January 1872, Page 2

For the past ten years there has been no such hot and dry season as that we are now experiencing. Prom North and South we have the same complaints of excessive drought and its consequences. The feed of the cattle is parched up, the streams are dry, the coi h is prematurely ripened or shaken out of the ears, numerous and extensive hush fires are ocouiring, and the universal cry is for rain. The Illustrated New Zealand Herald for January maintains its character as a first-class illustrated family journal Amongst other illustrations we note a view of the wreck qf the P, and O. Co.'s R.M.S. ' Rangoon,' from a sketch made on the spot by Mr Robertson, one of the passengers (who, remarkable to iel ate, was also a passenger by the Queen of the Thames on her ill-fated homewa I in April last); a party o+ liners turning out the " Golden Christmas Cake " from the retort; "Christmas Eve in the Australian Bush"; a view of Tinker's Gully, Tararu Creek, on the Thames gold-field ; together with several views in Australia. The editor informs us that he has in preparation ■several views, including one of Cromwell, Clyde, the Nugget Lighthouse., Balclutha Bridge, and a portrait of the Taieri Fasting Girl. After having been victorious in several rifle competitions with various corps throughout the Colony—at the Thames, in Napier, in Wellington, and in Duuedin, —the Greymouth Rifle Rangers haye been defeated at last. In a match fired a day or two ago against the Dunediii Scottish Rifles, :he latter won by 15 points. W. S. Moorhouse, Esq., RegistrarGeneral of Land under the "Land Transfer Act/' was a passenger to Napier by the Phoebe yesterday. The Canterbury Press, of Friday last, 19th inst., contains the following weather paragiaph :—Yesterday was perhaps one of the hottest days of the season, added to which a nor'-wester of more than ordinary oppressiveness was blowing during the greater part of the day. In every direction the ground is perfectly parched for want of rain, and it is to ; be feared that the crops, more especially the oat crop, must have suffered severely"; Despite the watering of the streets the dust flew about yesterday in clouds, rendering walking the city a most unpleasant task. At Kaiapoi the inhabitants experienced one ot the nor'-w esters of olden time, but which are now fortunately less prevalent. The scorching heat produced a noticeable effect on all kinds of vege tation. For the pastures such weather is ill-timed, and the want of rain is badly felt by the dairy farmers. It must have hastened to some extent the premature ripening of the corn, and we hear that the wind has fhaken severely, grain which was in some instances dead ripe. There has not been a good shower' of rain since November 10. The last parallel season was the one of 1861-2.