WARM AND DRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 290, 8 December 1931, Page 12

WARM AND DRY.

WEATHER TURING NOVEMBER CEREAL CROPS RETARDED. i.By Telegraph.—Press Associatioc.'; WELLINGTON, Monday. The aciing-director of the Meteorological Office, in a review of the weather conditions in November, states that in marked contrast to last year, when November was one of the coldest' ever experienced, the past month has been a particularly warm one and at many places the mean temperature was the highest recorded in November for many years. Over the greater portion of the Dominion November was airo a very dry month, Taranaki and isolated places in the far north and south being the only parts of the country where the total rainfall exceeded the average. The greatest deficiencies occurred in the Nelson district and provinces on the east coast, and the continued dry weather in these districts lias had the effect of retarding the growth of vegetation. Cereal crops in South Canterbury suffered ccverclv

in this respect. Fairly general rain about November 21, however, was very helpful and greatly j relieved the anxiety of farmer?. Unfortunately Hawke's Bay received little orj no rain at this time. In most other parts! of the Dominion, on account of occasional local showers and warm tempera-j tures. vegetation made fair growth. Forj instance, in the central portion of the Xorth Island the sultry conditions which had prevailed culminated in some severe thunderstorms, accompanied by heavy J downpours. Feed grew rapidly and there was surplus jjrasi for the first time this , year. For the country a> a whole, however, lock! rains are needed to eii&ure better growth i:i crops and sufficient pntturage for the summer. Stock severally ure ia good condition, especially ehcep, cattle havini: sufFcrcd somewhat from dryness ! in the eastern district.-. '