AN AUSTRALIAN DROUGHT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 135, 7 June 1878, Page 4

AN AUSTRALIAN DROUGHT.

The magnitude of the losses sustained by the Australian colonies in consequence of the drought of 1876 and 1877, can scarcely be estimated, and noihing like full information on the subject is likely ever to ba received. A comparison between new aud old statistics will, however, throw some light on the matter, and in the case of New South Wales we are already iu possession of some rather startling iacts showing how severe a check the chief producing interest of that colony has received. From returns recently published we find that on the Slat December of laßt year the numbar of aheep bad fallen from 25,269,755 in 1875, to 21,521,662 in 1877, a decrease of 3,832,262, of which 84,169 must be placed to the account of 1875, and no less than 3,748,092 to that of 1877. But these figures do not tell the whole slory. It has been pointed out that if the years in question had been prosperous ones, the New South Wales flocks, increasing at the average aonual rate of 7 per cent., would rise in numbers to 29,000,000, instead of having been reduced to 21,000,000. That such a blow could have been inflicted without leaving behind more than the merest traces of disaster, indieaus the great natural wealth of the colony, and the elasticity of its resources. The calamity is even calculated to do good, for, according to the " Sydney Mail," the losses of the squatters lest year were greatly aggravated by the practice of overstocking. A series of favorable seasons had induced want of cautioD, and the majority of the runs were stocked to the utmost of their carrying capacity. There would have been stnple sustenance for the flocks if nn ordinary season bod been experienced, but a drought, not mora severe (han those which h>id preceded it, or others that are likely to follow if, desolated the land, and the sheep perished in ihousauds. Had the pastures not been overstocked, the mortality would have been much less serious, and the losses would not have reached such an enormous total. The livo stock returns of this colony for 1877 have yet to be published, but they also may be expected to tell a talo of disaster. And our aheep-ovvners, too, may, late in the day, ba taught a lesson against overstocking.

Crime and Retribution. — A courier on his way from Tangier to Fez, saw a man maning in a manner which excited hie suspicion. Ho eearched the spot from whence the man had come and found the body of s woman with both hands aod ears cut off, obviously lor the sake of the earings and bracelets ehe wore. The body of tbe poor womaD, who had been near her confinement, was literally divided in two. The courier followed the direction taken by the man, and, on comiog to tbe next village, informed the people of what he had seeD, and expressed his belief that the murderer was concealed there. The villagers went back to tbe spof, and, having found everything as stated by the couriiT, returned and commenced a search for the murderer. After a time he was found secreted in an upper room in d house, with the hand of the murdered woman with the bracelet on, concealed in his clothes. Summary justice was resolved upon ; tbe oulprit was dragged through the village, and both ears and hand cut off. The populace then lighted a great fire, in which he was burnt alive. All this happened within five days' voyage from England, and a day or two's journey from a British garrison.