248' JpricnUural Gazette of N.S.W. [Mar. 2, 190«. 



generally was l)el()w the average, more especially over tlir Wcstcin Division 

 and Ivivei-ina, where for tlic most part the totals were very small, and at 

 several stations no i-aintali was recorded. Tn many districts the best falls 

 occurred during the last week of the month, particularly in the Western 

 Division, Riverina, and over the Eh stern Division. 



The following is a statement showing a brief compaiison of the chief 

 meteorological elements over India, together wjjth Australia, as far as fiata 

 are available, for the numih of January, IDOS : — 



Judging from the above table, the pressure in India and Australia during 

 the month was above average. At Sydney the mean, which was seventeen- 

 hundredths above normal, constitutes a record for Sydney during January. 



Excepting at India and Perth, where teraperatui'es were lower than normal 

 by 0'3 and 3'6 degrees respectively, some great excesses are shown, especially 

 in Adelaide and Melbourne, where it was 7'3 and 7^9 respectively above the 

 average. 



Dry weather ])revailed generally itwv Australia, but India i'(>pf rts normal 

 conditions. 



TiiK Needlewood [Ilakea leiicopte) a). 



This is a tall shrub or small tree, found in western New South AVales, and 

 from the wood of the root-stock the well-known Needlewood tobacco pipes 

 are made. 



For many years attempts have been made to place the making of these 

 pipes on a firm basis as an Australian industry, but these have failed, partly 

 because the wood has sweated, and partly because it has been ditlicult to 

 secure a regular supply of the article. 



Messrs. Field and Villars, of "The Australian Calabash Pipe Factory," 

 192, Pitt-street, Sydney, are entering seriously into the utilisation of Needle- 

 wood, and ask to be put into communication with peoph' who will supply the 

 seasoned wockI. — .J.H.M. 



