SEVERE DROUGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1933, Page 3

SEVERE DROUGHT

• QUEENSLAND'S LOSS. EFFORTS TO SAVE .FLOCKS. Tli.i eeroius effects of the drought whieli . prevailed until the end of May in largo areas in Queensland are re-

corded in recent irc-ues • of Brisbane newspapers. Only for the; bore drains that crisscross the Mungiiidi distri.l:, -it was considered that tlie 'dry"spell would already bo more serious that that of 1902. From Gnrah to Mu'ngiiuli there was scarcely a blade of grass, and the stock, route was cut up by tU< hoofs of thousands of travelling sheep, which used this feed less stretch only to return home for shearing. Witin CO miles radius of Mungindi, on tlie New South Waifs side, it was estimated that about 40,(500 sheep had died. Others were being taken heme as quickly as their weak state would allow, so that the fleece could he shorn from them before they died. The MiltonvilU Station lnd very little grass, ami the owner, Air Frank Morrison, had applied for permission

to cut belah ccrub on the stock route, as a last j esouiccrr" • Another grazier who lately transporting his sheep back along tli.;., bare stock rotuo in small batches by motor-lorry.' Most of them were too weak to travel, an'fi lie did not expect to be able to shear them all alive. CUTTING SCRUB FOR STOCK. Some owners had been cut on the stock route,s far nine months, and many of the sheep were in far worse condition than when they left heme. Practically all the Mungiiidi graziers were scrubcutting,’or had their mobs away on the routes or on agistment in more favoured localities. Ore small owner spent upwards cf £4o.') on 300 sheep, and lrd decided to give up trying to save them.

The Gil Gil, Wlrilan and Boomi Creeks, which cm„s the 'stock route at 'various points, had fair quantities cf stagnant prater in them. To get to this w ater, sheep, had to travel many miles over roads without feed, and tho’r weak state made travel slow. Near Wecvorra cattle could be scon with swollen lips and no sen and slaver, ing mouths, 'showing that they were keeping themselves alive on prickly pear. Some of them kept fair condition, in these circumstances. That the ’ light rains which fell throughout the Cloncurry district,

about L3CO miles north-west of Brisbane, • during a recent week-end did more harm than good, is the consensus of opinion amtfng graziers. The average fall over the district had been logs than half an inch. Slightly larger falls were reported to the north,

but even these were far from sufficient no ensure a new growth of feed. REPORTS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS.

Tiie Blackball and Isisforcl districts, about 600 miles north-west cf 'Brisbane, were very bare, and tlie stock routes were dosed, although there was a fair quantity cf grass about Malvern Hills to tile west.- There was a little Red On the Tam bo common, and a few of the stations in the surrounding vicinity had a little feed, but this condition ■aid not extend beyond 30 mi.es south of Tanibo, vlier the country was again drought stricken. The stock market was flat, and although sheep were no offer at a nominal figure, no sales could be effected.

In an interview at Mitchell, 372 miles north-west of Brisbane, Messrs

G. H. and A. Macfarlan®, general sec* rotaries of the Maranoa Graziers' Ashc(,inlion, taid that only'scattered'Storing and li;;ht rain amounting to gome 4iu. had fallen in the Maranoa' district during 1033, and, the 1 conditions‘f generally were fast approaching those of the drought years of 1900, 1901 and. 1992. The stock generally were in fair store condition; but most owners would b» compelled to cut scrub during June, July and August, and : unless the district experienced a wet winter, li'rge losses would occur. Sheep were

almost unsaleable, tha only inquiry heing for young stock. ■ The district north of Mitchell, which is chiefly cattle country, was reported to be in better condition, but the low prices of meat and high rail charges rendered it unprofitable to send fat stock‘to Brisbane. k vt. ; ; *