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Queensland Stock Movements and
State of the Country.
(Queenslander, March 19.)
The incipient drought which has been threaten-
ing the pastoral and agricultural interests of South
Queensland with destruction was broken as far as
the eastern part was concerned on Saturday last,
when heavy rain began to fall, continuing until
Monday. Although the heavy precipitation was
confined to the coastal renion the refreshing showers
spread over a great extent of parched country on
the western downs and were of incalculable benefit,
the rain having extended as far west as Eulo. At
several stations in the Central district useful raia
has fallen, but farther west than Tambo there was
little or none. In the North splendid showers
fell .all over the coast district. The change
has come at a very opportune time, and
supplies of grass and water for the winter are
assured all over the south-east. Since Monday the
weather has been very hot and muggy, and it is
not unlikely that we shall have to report further
heavy rains before long.
Thursday Island, March 10.-Strong north-
west winds, accompanied by heavy rain, have been
experienced since Saturday evening last.
"Urandangie (via Burketown), January 6.
Owing to heat and dry weather there is little work
being done on stations in the neighbourhood, and a
state of quiescence prevails pending the, hoped-for
advent of summer rains, as heralds of which a few
flying storms, composed more of dust than rain,
have visited various localities.
A heavy windstorm prevailed for about thirty
minutes on the afternoon of the 30th December
when Carandotta store was paitially unroofed and
several small outbuildings thrown down, but
barring these casualties the trees in its track were
the only other sufferers. Backwater is completely
done, and nearly all the cattle are now on the
main frontages, the wells at Carandotta being all in
full s wing to supply the wants of the sheep. All
stock, however, are in good condition.
Cooktown, March 10.-The rainfall since Satur-
day last has been 5'47in. The Laura River was in
a higher state of flood last Wednesday than ever
known before.
The Palmer (Maytown), February 29.-So far
we have had an extremely mild wet season ; only a
little under 3in. registered for February. Squatters
out in the Peninsula country state if no more rain
falls they will have to " shift camp." It has been
showery here since the 24th, the Palmer and.
Mitchell rivers are flooded to date.
Oak Park, (via Junction Creek), March 16.
Six inches of rain fell here during the month of
January, 2in. in February, and lin. this month.
Heavy rains have fallen in the neighbour-
hood during the past three weeks, 4in. being
registered at Lyndhurst. At Carpentaria Downs
2'89in. fell in January, 3in. in February, and 2in.
this month. All the stations between Herberton
and Georgetown have been visited by heavy
showers, very heavy iu places, but there haB been
no general rain. Grass is everywhere plentiful;
hut in many camps on the Lynd watershed there has
not been enough rain to run the gullies for washing
tin.
Cairns, March 15.-The weather is intensely hot.
Townsville, March 14.-The weather con-
tinues hot and close.
Mackay, March 14.-Splendid rains have fallen
all over the district. The dam at the Zelma claim
at Grasstree is full, and crushing will be at once
resumed.
Marlborough, March 14.-T*o hundred and
twenty-five bullocks and cows are passing from
Malvern Downs to Lake's Creek, W. D. Lowden in
charge. March 15: One hundred and seventy
eight fat bullocks passed to-day from Collaroy
station to Lake's Creek, Mr. Martin owner, H.
Smith in charge.
Ingham, March 4.-The weather has been in-
tensely hot during the last few days, but heavy
rain set in last night, and has continued all diy,
something like 5in. having fallen. The crops all
over the Herbert have improved wonderfully since
the beginning of the year, and there is every pro-
spect of a good crushing on the plantations next
season.-March IO : The season is veiy favourable,
rain falling principally at night.
Tambo, March 14.-1400 mixed cattle have passed
from Mantuan Downs for New South Wales, James
Underwood drover.
Rockhampton, March 13. - Steady rain, with
occasional heavy downpours, fell lost night. The
weather since has been fine, but is very close now,
and further rain is threatening.-March 15 : The
weather has been very hot to-day and yesterday,
registering up to 96deg. and 94deg. in the shade- I
There is no sign, however, of rain.-March 16 : The
weather to-day has been very hot, the thermometer
registering up to 99deg. in the shade.
Upper Mary, March 14.-We have had plenty
of rain. It began to come down in real earnest on
Saturday, and continued without any intermission
for twenty-four hours. It came down in such tor-
rents that I gave up all attempts to measure it,
I and perhaps the best description I cou give of it is
to say that 1 do not remember ever having seen so
muoh rain fall in a similar time. The whole sur-
face of the country was covered with a sheet of
water, and the watercourses and the gullies
were perfect torrents. The river, too, is rising
fast; but as the up-country had been in such a
parched condition, and a3 the rain ceased alto-
gether at about 2 p.m. on Sunday, there is not
much cause to fear a flood. The temperature of
the weather kept up to an unusually high pitch all
last week, which told very much on the crops and
on the grass, but now everything is thoroughly
saturated, and all fear of short feet for winter is
now removed.
Maryborough, March 14.-The weather is now
fine.
Gympie, March 11 -The weather is close and
warm, with an overcast sky, and rain is threatening.
Eidsvold, March 15.-About 2in. of steady rain
has fallen, and more is threatening.
Cunnamulla, March 16.-The weather is fine.
On Sunday there was every appearance of a storm,
as heavy clouds came up, with some thunder, but
no rain fell here. Reports to hand state that light
showers fell down the river. Over two inches were
registered at Eugonia, and Tilboroo reports about
au inch on Sunday. There have been extensive
bush fires at Widgeegoara and Avondale stations,
and it is estimated that over ,£200 worth of fencing
was destroyed. It is not known whether any horses
or stock were lost. The maximum shade tempera
ture for the past week was 104 deg., ana the
minimum 65deg.
There are no stock passings to report.
St. Georgs, March 11.-Six thousand mixed
sheep will be crossing the border on Monday next,
from Moree to Noondoo grazing farms, which were
lately taken up by Mr. A. Lomax.
The weather is hot and dry. The maximum
shade temperature during the week was 102 deg.
Windorah, March 12,-Drovera' men are seeking
work here, but there are no stock movements,
Grass and water are in abundance, and rations
are plentiful. The weather is beautifully fine.
Darling Downs, March 16.-The Btook move-
ments are as follows : 60 head of mixed horses left
Toowoomba on Monday, the 14th, en route to St,
George, in charge of the owner, Mr. T. Irwin.
90 head of mixed horses will leave here on Monday
next, the 21st, en route for the Barcoo district, in
charge of Mr. K. Williams; travelling for sale.
Splendid rain fell here on Saturday and Sunday,
nearly 3in. It was pretty general throughout this
district, and has done a great deal of good as it was
badly wanted. To-day is very warm and close,
and I imagine more rain is not far off.
Roma, March 15.-Rain is much wanted. A
slight shower fell on Sunday, but not sufficient to
do much good.
Warwick, March 11.-The weather continues
dry, but rain seems to be hanging about.
Caboolture, March 14.-We have had heavy rain
during Saturday and yesterday. Up to 12 o'clock
last night 6'54in. of rain fell altogether. We have
had a little over 8in. during the last three days. I
have not heard that any damage haB been done,
though the river was.a banker this morning.
Logan and Albert, March 9.-We have had
some slight showers since my last, but more rain is
wanted badly. Farmers are busy taking in their
crops of maize and lucerne, but the low prices
ruling for all agricultural produce are very dispirit-
ing, and they look forward to the future success of
the sugar industry to again give them a market for
their produce and horses.
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