Drought in New South Wales.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 128, 29 April 1884, Page 3

Drought m New South Wales.

i, • '■ - ■ • - • ■ -V ■ - . .- . .... i J A Btation-manajjer m New South Wales writing under date March 1, makes the - following remarks: — 'It is now., five months since we were favored with a downpour of rain, and even then it was not much to speak of. The country io, m consequence,: m * dreadful state. The New Zealandeig, living as you do where water v to be iound m marvellous abundance all the year round, cannot by any - ? itretoh bt imagination picture to your-, ■elves the appearance of the country during a long drought, particularly out hern (Oanon'bar district) m the far West,' which was m the early days, before settlement • : let infa dreary, waterless waate, extend' ing. for. miles and miles m every direction. H»W and tn^ 6 rftn a sluggish, dirty liter, which contained water m any quftntity only after a heavy fall of rain.' As civilisation advanced several changes for the better took place ', artificial mean 9 fwrv improving the water supply were resorted to ; but even with these artificial appliances we ar.e this season m a terrible plight. But when rain does fall here to . any extent, the effect upon the country is magical. Luxuriant grasses come up with a growth that is something akin to that of 1 Jonah's gourd, and splendid verdure, grateful and comforting to both rain •nd beast, abounds whflrejJ 4 day 'or so ; ! '■ previously' not a blade of gra& was to, be . _■ ieen> But, rain ' invariably brings with | : it i pests m the shape of myriads of flies . and mosquitoes. When these appear it ii the custom to make fires of cow manure, , for the purpose of protecting .the horses '/! from their ravages. They always get to J Weward of the fire direstly^the s'ra.okp.bes gins to ascend. This is the bl-ightsidi ; r of an extraordinarily dismal picture, however let us look on the other. This continued dry weather has caused the death of hundreds of thousands of cattle and ■beep. 'Dead animals are 'ljing m all directions on ibme stations, and the losh ' sustained bjr the runholders is at present- ; -itiatilculabte. One may travel • scores of ' miles without findiog a drop of water m; •n> of the streams. It is only on an odd r- ., sfcajtipia or two, which may have been visited by a chance or passing thunder-' '.' storm, that one can hope to obtain a '.' drink of wholesome water, and even that : ii givea to the : weary traveller with Sudgiag kindness. Fancy m a summer re this— with the thermometer ranging •■-■>. from 80 deg. to 110 deg.— one being obliged to draught; or muster sheep arid cattle, or to have to ride 40 or 60 miles, withjn 24 hours, ov a horse m a starved .condition, with its bones protruding from ' . 'its ekin. I assure you I am not exaggßrat- ' ' ingV -What water we have is alive with , <-. iniectd and reptiles, and when it is boiled a bright>green scum rises \p the surface. .-:• ; wjben travelling, --one is compelled. to c »rry ; water for drinking purposes m: canvas-.* . tags- and such water usit is V Why, it is not fit for washing floors with, let alone ..drinking! And this is a land which i« 'said tobe-flbwing with ' milk and honey!' I should like to have one of those _ vivid* minded scribes out here with me on the .run for a f ef day«j and he would receive such a Isstbn therefrom that w uld take all the sentiment and guah out'of his com* , i»Gßition-er<-:r.after.' : ■■ ■■.