LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 185, 4 February 1914, Page 2

LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.

lIKAT AMD TIIUNDHItSTdKMS. Writes an cx-Xcw Zealamler to a Xew Plymouth resident:--''This part of the world has been passing through very trying times, as regards weather conditions. The counti'y is as dry as a ibonc and on some davs a furnace heat prevails, then the cooling process takes place in the shape o; a thunderstorm and lightning. The thunder is heaven's artillery with :i vengeance. The other evening we ha<i a clap which appeared loud enough to shake the very foundations of the continent, and but for this and a similar experience in Sydney a few months ago, when there, came on a clear! line day 'a bolt from the blue,' I had no idea thunder represented such a tremendous force in nature.. The lightning, too. is vivid and, to some, terrifying. Quite, a number of people are struck by lightning, and most frequently when seeking shelter from the storm under trees. It is surprising to hear, with these occasional experiences, people here, say that they would not) care to be obliged to live in New- Zealand because of the earthquakes, these earthquakes, in their limited understanding, being frequent and most dangerous to human life. Why, my wife has said snakes and lightning account for a much greater death-rate than the earthquakes, but people simply decline to believe such a condition j of things possible. "This will be a lean year for the orclinrdist growing oranges and other citrous fruits. The weather has been too dry, and the. fruit has only formed and will not mature. The loss will be great, fls many people depend on the, crop for a living, and there are thousands of acres of citrus trees. Tn full 'bearing a citrus orchard presents at line appearance. The air over great areas is fragrant with orange blossoms. The rain is due here next month, and the man on the land is busy just now getting in his crops of peas and othei vegetables, as the rain, succeeding a long dry spell, will give n brief season of surprising! growth of things before winter sets in. It is said this is the most dependable period of the year for growing crops.''