BENEFICIAL RAIN

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 66, 18 March 1915, Page 6

BENEFICIAL RAIN

IN THE AUCKLAND PROVINCE. WELCOMED BY FARMERS. GREATLY IMPROVED PROSPECTS. Lnmt night b rainfall! appears to havt> been faVriy general over the greater portion of t'lrp North leland, und has greatly relieved tho mvnds of farmers, especially in tllw oountry districts in the south of the province, whose crops had for weeks bom crying .out for Tain. In thy Soii'i'.'i Island, ehowcre of a much lighter nature than were experienced , lin Auckland ore reported. The amount of rain that fell | Vn tno arty ovor-mglvt, ac registered at the Uhßervatcry in the Albert Park, was To poivrtm, representing Ilhe fall for tire I previous 24 bevwra. T. F. Cheeecman, curator of fbe Auckland Museum, thinks tilrdt we may reasonably expect anottor | \»rg,c fal\ w-tthvn a f«w htrara. ' It is interasti-ng io note that in no cae« during the paiit six months has t/ie J T&'mfcaU ior tfnc month Ireen as teavy as ' 1 that for tfiio oanresponding months of the previous year. In one instance, that of I 'Vast montta. the ira/mfail was surprisingly 'low, .do indite, which ifc 2.53 inches beton* the average, and 1.01 below the fail recorded for the sanw- month of 1014. The faJl /or the mont'ii of November of last year. 1.41 torches, is easily eclipsed by that of 0.16 ini'Jii* for tire corresponding previous month. The following table i-jlvowe the rainfalfe for the past fiix morrlhis. ae compared with those for the same period of the prrovioiiß year:— I I 1011 , .. 1914. AvgJ September . 1.70 1.45 r,.4S October 3.<B> 1.1.-> 3.42 November . «.10 1.41 3.0!» December . :.'.Bo 1.77 *.62 lflU. 1915. January ... 1.32 3.00 2.77 PVhntar.v .. I .«(> .«."» ."!. 18 March 2.22 I.Bl' (to date) 2.78 I I In otlrcrr dbtricte ;n the Auckland province Vlfp rainfall last night vnd early this morning appeara to "have been quite «tis sat is fart ory as Hhai m the city, but further wouth it soeme to have besu ieee steady. At llreymouth 'hat! ieU, accompanjed by 'lig-hi rain, which did not last an appreciable time. In otiher districts the woxtht'T was eitiver misty, cloudy, or. Hhowery. Jn iJltc South leland there was light rain in sevrrra.l parts, but not 6ufficton't to do miKlh gorid as far ac farnung iii concerned. Reports ficcn Wharigerei state that after earns weeks of continuous dry weather, general rain started to fall last night, much improving the prospects of wintrr f<'?d for fanncre. Apart from this service, it \roickl cxtingiiisfli the nunKroue buwh fires, which latterly had been a menace to tlie <"/.>trict. besides improving the hooal water supply, about which mucCi anxiety had lately been felt. It vvoirid app«jr that tlhe Tain in the country districts in the south of the province wa-s much more beneficial than it vr&3 in Auckland city. Those who jou/r----neyevl to the races at Paieroa state that the day wai* entirely spoilt by an incessant downpour which eet in late in the marnkg ami continued unabated until well into the afternoon. In epite of the of the weather, 'howewr, trpere was a record attendance. At N'ga.ruat\UihM, too, where the annual regatta ami Maori oports' meeting was j being held, the Tain surprised the plea-siiTe-seekeiH enirly in the afternoon, and e-poilt tire day's outing. Tlic graieral opinion it that tlhe ireeent rain, wipecrailly iji the country, will ihave a most beni'ticial effect upon all crops, frrratly improving I£vt proapecte of winter feed for faxmere. GOOD FALL IX JIAWKE'S BAY. (By Telefreph.—rreee Association.) NAPIER, this day. The best rainfall experienced since May of last year set in last night, and gives every promise of continuing. Reports from the country indicate that the fall is widespread. It will do immeasurable good.