IN THE COUNTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 30, 6 February 1928, Page 10

IN THE COUNTRY.

DELUGE AT MERCER.

SEVERE ELECTRIC STORM,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

MERCER, this day.

This district was visited by a severe electrical disturbance on Saturday, when for nearly two hours there was an almost continuous rumble of thunder, with frequent vivid flashes of lightning. Something in the nature of a thunderbolt fell near Mr. Gallery's house at Mercer. A big ball of electrical fire was seen, which soon burst with a report' that could be heard some distance away.

Rain set in at 4.15 p.m. and fell in torrents during the course of the thunderstorm. The almost tropical downpour was followed by lighter showers, which fell intermittently until ten o'clock. The fall registered during the period amounted to nearly 2J inches.

Another downpour occurred on Sunday afternoon, when a further .30 points of rain was registered.

The heavy rain, following as it did the splendid fall of the previous Monday, will be of immense benefit to the district, having been sufficient to assure good autumn growth. , . , •

THUNDERSTORM BURSTS. HEAVY - RAIN FOLLOWS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. A heavy thunderstorm at a quarterpast four put a suddeu termination to all sport on Saturday. Bain pelted down in a regular deluge, quickly filling the empty tanks which had become the despair of suburban dwellers and farmers. Although in the three* quarters of an hour while it lasted, over an inch fell, it did not even soften tlj® surface of the ground, which, baked hard by the Jong drought, will require several days of soaking rain to do any real good. It has, however, had a very beneficial effect in relieving the water shortage. 172 POINTS IN CAMBRIDGE. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) CAMBRIDGE, this day. Further rain fell in_ this district on Saturday night, following a thunderstorm during the afternoon. The total fall for the 24 hours ending 0 a.m. on Sunday was 1.72 in.

In sustaining turnips and other supplementary crops, the rain is worth thousands of pounds to the district. It will freshen the pastures, but is not •uffieient to bring them back to their former condition. v " . . - _ -

FRANKLIN REFRESHED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) rUKEKOHE, this day. Refreshing rain fell in 'the eastern portion of Franklin County, particularly Bombay, Buckland, Pukekohc and Drury on Saturday evening. The fall lasted over two hours and the hardened and cracking earth received a splendid soaking. West of Pukekohc very little rain fell, and consequently the withered pastures were not benefited much. Yesterday heavy rain was experienced at Clevedon and at the rear of the Hunua Hills. Pukekohc had four hours' heavy rain last week the beneficial cffects of which on the autumn crops and pastures are already to be seen. GENTLE FALL AT TE KUITI. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) TE KUITI, Saturday. Following a day of intense heat an electric disturbance passed over the district at 4 o'clock this after»oon. It was followed by gentle rain, which continued for an hour, ceasing at 5.30. This shower will probably do more good than the heavy downpour under similar conditions three weeks ago; the rain being so heavy on that occasion as to cause it to run off rather than soak into the soil.

STILL MORE NEEDED. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) TE AWAMUTU Saturday. For tlio second time this week the long drought seemed likely to break when a thunderstorm passed over at about 5 o'clock this afternoon. Heavy rain lasting for about half-an-hour fell, but it was insufficient to have much benefit. SHOWER AT TAURANGA. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TAURANGA, Saturday. There was a slight fall of rain here last night. The maize crop will benefit, but the shower was not sufficient to affect pastures.