Transcribed from the 17 June 1828 edition of The Newry Commercial Telegraph newspaper: New South Wales. Letters from Sydney to the 7th Feb. have been received via Rio de Janeiro, by the Alacrity from thence. The information they contain is extremely distressing--the wheat harvest, as well as the grass and vegetables, had totally failed, from continued drought and heat--the former had risen to 12s. and even 15s.[per] bushel. This unfortunate circumstance had obliged them to seek their supplies from the South American ports, to which they despatched some vessels. The harvest had also suffered at Van Dieman's Land nearly to an equal extent. Such had been the influx of settlers into the colony, that no house, or even barn could be procured. Trade wore a lamentable feature, and the quantity of goods imported had been so extensive as to supply their wants for some years, the sales of which had been attended with heavy sacrifices. ======================