Drought in Australia.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 321, 1 December 1888, Page 5

Drought in Australia.

Sydsey, November 26. There has been a very great advanc c in prices for feed stuffs, and should the drought continue, it is hard to know where to secure supplies unless New Zealand is able to come to the rescue. The maize yield in New South Wales, however, is good. The drought is beginning to be felt in dairy-producing districts, where the great trouble is the shortness of water rather than grass. Since the first of November the price of factory butter has risen ioo per cent. Summer fruits are falling off trees by the bushel, and the jam companies will be seriously affected. At the last stock auctions, the prices realised for cattle showed a decline of 50 per cent. Sheep are selling at prices down to 2s. The large purchases which are being made on behalf of the Meat Preserving Companies keep prices better than they would otherwise be. Reports of the failure of crops continue to be received from many districts. In the New England districts the harvest has never been so bad for the last forty years. At Bathurst there is no agricultural produce, and a heavy fall of rain is the only hope of saving stock. A movement is on foot at Bourke to petition the Government asking for a rebate in the rentals, otherwise tho holdings will be abandoned. At Braid wood the potato crop has failed, while at Brewarrioa, Carcoar, Cobar, and Cooma the outlook is gloomy, and serious results are feared. At Burrowa the pastoral returns are fair, but agricultural produce is altogether bad. Coonabarabran has surfered a bad lambing season, but in other respects stock are doing fairly well. The wheat yield is expected to be good. The losses at Coonamble are heavy, and the outlook is black. At Cootamundra the stock losses have been slight. The country generally looks fairly well, except in cases where the land has been overstocked. The wheat crop, however, is beyond recovery. The Cowra district has suffered only slight losses in stock, but agriculture is ruined. Crookwell so far has not had serious loss, yet the crops are poor. At Deniliquin the outlook is dreary, and prices for produce are rapidly advancing. The wheat yield in the Gleninnis district is expected to average only three or four bushels to the acre. The Goulburn district has suffered very much from bush fires, and enormous loss is reported. The wheat crop has been a complete failure, but stock are doing fairly well. At Grafton, it is expected that the yield of maize wiil double that of any previous year. The prospects of the late crop are also very good, and the agricultural and pastoral outlook is excellent. At Greenfell, a water famine is imminent, and it is feared the flour-mills wiil be idle for the next twelve months. At Gundagai, the wheat yield is from five to fifteen bushels per acre. The other produce is a failure. At Hillston there will be no harvest this year, and the effect on trade is disastrous. Many persons at Inverell have been ruined in consequence of the crops failing. At Kempsey, the season is the best experienced for many years. The stock and crops are looking splendid. At Kianada, the drought is making itself felt, and dairy produce is failing. At WaggaWagga the crops are only six inches high, and not worth cutting for hay. At Walgett, water is scarce, but there is a fair growth of grass, and the losses in stock have been slight. It is not expected that rain will fall before February. In the Wellington district the wheat crops look fairly well. Prices for produce are rising. Ruin is staring the squatters in the face. The prospects at West Maitland are fair, but the Wilcannia district is in a terrible state. One station alone lost 63,000 lambs. Some stations have practically been abandoned. Wool cannot reach market owing to travelling difficulties. At Yass the potato and hay crops have been a failure. The drought is causing sad havoc among the sheep in the country districts. A drover was engaged driving a mob of 15,000 sheep from Wilcannia to Hay, but lost 12,000 en route.

Brisbane, November 26. At Croydon heavy rain has fallen, and the outlook is now more hopeful. Meat, bread and potatoes are very high, and fodder is at famine price. Maize is selling at 7s, chaff 14s per cwt

Adelaide, November 26. The drought is not altogether responsible for the condition of crops, as in the northern districts grasshoppers have been the main cause. In many districts the returns will be high. After supplying local [wants it is estimated there will be nearly five million bushels available for export. From half the wheat area there will be little or no return received. The drought has been most disastrous to squatters in the outside country.

Hobart, November 26. The drought has broken up, and the crops have been saved. Supplies of hay and chaff are still short.

Gladstone's private library contains 15,000 volumes, and the venerable statesman can lay, his hand upon any book of them all at ' a minute's notice. "I haven't a single book," he says, " that I am not on intimate terms' with."