DROUGHT IN OTAGO.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 166, 13 July 1907, Page 6

DROUGHT IN OTAGO.

GRAIN HARVEST AFFECTED. CBy Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIV, this day. In Central Otago districts and Oamaru there has been practically no rain since August. In Lawrence, for instance, the total rainfall from January to June measured only 7in. Farmers report that they are only able to plough stubble turnip land, and tbat only to the same depth to which the ground was ploughed last year. From Naseby to Mount Ida it is imposible to plough at all.

This will have a severe effect on the grain harvest, and, as Oaniaru grain is extremely valuable for mixing purposes, a shortage from that district will be much felt by merchants.

Tokens of distress have already become apparent; and to sluicing miners a continuation of the drought will be very serious. The company at Waitahuna has been able to put in only one solitary broken week's work during the last eight months. At Blue Spur sluicing averages per week used to range from 190 to 210 hours. Certainly last week's hands worked 12S hours, but previous to that the average ran as low' as 42 hours. Such a lamentable state of affairs has not been known in mining circles before. Snow is often regarded as a valuable source of water supply, but the snow that has already fallen has frozen solid, and will probably not begin to melt till January, when the harm will nave been done.