JOTTINGS FROM NEW SOUTH WALES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2707, 16 November 1889, Page 2

JOTTINGS FROM NEW SOUTH WALES.

[By "Qui Vive."]

Duhinc the present .spring season everything in the lines of cultivation and pasture is wowing a most pleasing and promising aspect. People have already forgotten the terrible ordeal of last summer's drought, after the recent mild and productive winter season, and in the enjoyment of the, present benelieont season. A certain Mr Egeson of the Sydney Observatory Staff has, however, introduced the skeleton into our banquet by predicting another severe and protracted drought in the near future. He lias constructed his drought theory on recent and dry seasons of the early history of New South Wales ; and strives to showthat there is a great pr 'babiiity of their recurring in periodical cycles, influenced possibly by certain astronomical causcs,_at present unaccounted for. The prediction lias raised a slight scare among landholders, and in consequence the Minister for Public Instruction, under whose department the Obsarvaiory is, has issued an order that no weather forecasts, other than tlio;-o of Mr Russell, the Chief Government Astronomer, are to bo published from the Observatory. Mr Russell has, however, given publicity to the fact that he has not faith 'in Mr Egesnn's forecast, and this statement has gone far to restore popular confidence. There is not the slightest doubt that, aided by the light of science, men of learning, and kcou observation may be able to prophesy the future state of the weather in countries enjoying an equable climate, but here in Australia where no two seasons are scarcely ever similar, the predictions of weather prophets of all grades of culture may bo taken in a great measure cum grano salis. It is, however, a comfortable thing to reflect that your splendidly producing country is not far distant, and that there is a permanent hope of always being able to obtain an ample supply of produce, should our coming season prove unpropitious. A large area is under wheat crops in our colony this season, and should the present state of the weather continue two months longer, abundant returns may bo expected, and importation of the precious cereal will be very much limited during the next year. Our other great and more reliable industry, the wool supply, is affording a fino yield during the present shearing season. The introduction of the Wolseley shearing machine on many of our great stations is vastly revolutionising the art of shearing; but there is no doubt that they are a most successful and humane invention, and bad shearing and mutilation of the poor animals will soon be a thing of the past. Your correspondent had the pleasure of witnessing a shearing being performed on one of our great western runs last year by these machines. Upwards, of 200,000 sheep wore successfully shorn by them, and a New Zealand native was " ringer " of the shed for that season. Our political world is enjoying comparative calm at present. The memory of the late " scene," in which one of our junior members so elaborated his mother tongue, is nearly forgotten. It is a well-known fact that there are older transgressors in that particular offenco in our Assembly at the present time, who pretended to be greatly shocked by the affair. We have doubtlessly men of great legislative talent in our Parliament; but their.early culture in gentlemanly forbearance appears to have been sadly neglected. Owing to personality, want of unity, and bad leadership, the Opposition, which represents the Protectionist party, missed the chance of scoring a victory over the Free Irado Government recently, when debating the Johu Davies question. The report of Maior-Uoneral Edwards on the defences of the colonies, published by the Victorian Government, has caused some comment by the Sydney press of late. This able military "authority suggests the idea of a federal army to be maintained jointly by the colonies, and which by railway communication, could be quickly concentrated on any threatened point of attack by a hostile force. This would be a very desirable organisation, and should, with our growing population and nationality, be easy of execution. But partly fooling, pride of power, and want of concord, which has seriously retarded our colonial progress, will no doubt always interfere in matters of general welfare, until a judicious and permanent system of Australian Federation is instituted.