THE DROUGHT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 296, 11 June 1912, Page 5

THE DROUGHT

A SAVING RAINFALL. r __ By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Sydney, June 10. There have been useful rains over a large portion of the State. The Riverina and the Western Districts have benefited. Brisbane, June 10. The danger of drought has been banished for the present. There have been bountiful rains in the central districts and on the downs of Western Queensland. Adelaide, June 10. Splendid rains have fallen in the northern districts. Received 10, 9.5 pan. . Sydney, June 10. The drought has fairly broken. Practically every station in the State reports light to heavy falls, and it is still raining. The heaviest falls ha-ve been in the Blue Mountains. Up to this morning, at Katoomba, nearly five inches had fallen. In the wheat areas of the Riverina and elsewhere up to two inches is recorded. In the droughted pastoral areas of the west half an inch to two and a half inches has fallen. The position, so far as the wheat crops are concerned, has been saved, and the stock mortality has been arrested, especially as the fall was accompanied by a warm temperature. There is great jubilation in the city, and large crowds are watching the posting of returns. Melbourne, June 10. Victoria, South Australia and Queensland report further general soaking rains.

A FALL IN WHEAT. Received 10, 11.30 p.m. Sydney, June 10. As a Tesult of the rain, wheat quotations have dropped to 4s 2y 2 d and 4s 3d. Flour and foodstuffs are unchanged. As a set-off to the optimistic view, it is pointed out that the rain is somewhat late to fully benefit wheat, and that a big proportion of lambs and many breeding sheep have already been killed by the drought. If severe weather follows, much stock in poor condition will succumb. Possibly the strong demand for feedstuffs will continue and tide things OTer till the grass grows.