DRY WEATHER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 296, 15 December 1933, Page 8

DRY WEATHER.

NEAR DROUGHT IN SOUTH.

RESTRICTION ON GARDENERS

Drought conditions are threatening in many Southern districts, and unless copious rain falls soon the farmer will be confronted with ruined crops and with little prospects of feed for stock. The water shortage problem is acute in many districts already.

In Wellington only one point of rain has fallen this month, and only eleven points since November 22. November's rainfall amounted only to 158 points, the average of previous Novembers being nearly twice as much. The City Council is threatening action against those who hose their gardens unless they have a water meter installed. There is no shortage of water, but reservoirs will be low if the spell of dry, hot weather continues long. ,

The driest part of the Dominion at the present time is' undoubtedly the Marlborough district. In some parts of that province the rainfall has been deficient for the last three years, and with, the present dry spell the accumulated effect of successive dry seasons is very marked. The water supply of Blenheim itself is lasting well, but in the Wairau and Awatere districts the position.is one of serious gravity. , Pea and other, crops have been ruined from lack of water, and there is a scarcity of feed.- Practically all the smaller creeks have, run i dry, and water from the river has been carted for months past.

The Taranaki district is unusually dry for this, time of the year, and rain is badly needed. Harvesting operations are well advanced, but pasture growth. Ie now at a standstill, and the outlook for stock is not promising.-

The Wairarapa is also badly in need of good soaking rain if there is to be any feed for stock. Drying winds have accentuated the shortage in rainfall. "The drought," remarked one farmer, "is going to hit us harder than the depression if rain does not come soon."