THE WEATHER.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10265, 7 February 1899, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

HARVEST OPERATIONS INTERFERED WTTH.

In the city aud at Lyttelton yesterday a drizzling rain fell almost the whole day, and the sun did not shine once.

The" West Coast mails of last Tuesday reached Springfield on Saturday afternoon, having been delayed by the heavy rain storms between Bealey and Jackson's. It is reported that the road for nearly eight miles is washed away, also that the railway formation is badly and considerably damaged. At Otira Gorge the road has again broken away, and will be useless for wheel traffic for some time. The* mails had to be packed, and at one place the driver was let down with ropes into the riverbed before he could proceed on his journey. East of Bealey the roads are comparatively but slightly touched. Our Malvern correspondent writes: —Harvesting is proceeding slowly. The breaking weather every few days is very tantalising to the farmers, and, under these circumstances, no idea of threshing from the stook is likely to enter owners' minds, as they are most anxious to get grain into the stacks at the earliest opportunity when ready. There is a large quantity now in stook, which will be thoroughly soaked by the heavy southerly rain that fell during Saturday night and on Sunday, but as the temperature is'ion the cold side tire grain is not likely to suffer, providing the wet does not continue too long. At the upper end of the district the harvest will be late—only isolated paddocks are yet cut in that direction.

A correspondent writing from Wainui, Akaroa, in regard to' the cocksfoot harvest, states that a little of the earliest seed has been threshed out, but it is rather off colour. The weather has been very showery and broken, and threshing is very seriously delayed. The rain has not been enough to yet damage the colour of the seed, and a fortnight's fine weather is now badly wanted to complete threshing operations. In the Wainui Valley about half the seed is threshed out, and the other Bays are about in the same position. The dull weather has been greatly in favour of those with late crops, and others who are behind with their cutting. Had the usual noT'-westers prevailed a large quantity of seed would have been blown out and lost. The seed is well headed, and so far the yields are satisfactory. Our Eliesmere correspondent writes: — After threatening for a week, very heavy rain fell on Saturday night and Sunday morning last, and continued until about noon on Sunday. The. rain has thoroughly wet stocks and sheaves, and even if the weather now clears up, it will take two s days to dry the grain sufficiently forthresfiing. Nearly all the grain is now standing in stook, and unless the weather speedily clears up heavy damage and loss will ensue. '< It is to be hoped, now farmers liave had a warqing, that directly the grain is dry enougft, they will commence stacking, and not wait td thresh out of the stcok. '■ • \

Heavy showers of rain fell at Ashburton again yesterday afternoon, but towards evening the weather showed signs of clearing. A sharp shower of rain fell late on Saturday night (write&our Rakaia correspondent), and the weather* has been -broken since, a heavy downfall taking place on. Sunday and several sharp showers on Monday; Harvesting and threshing operations are entirely suspended, and as stooks and stacks are thoroughly wet through, some good drying weather must be experienced'before they can be continued. It is feared that oats in stook will be discoloured. Good threshing tallies are reported from Doric district, wheat running 30 to 45 bushels and oats up to 65 bushels per acre. A remarkably large quantity of ryegrass has been saved in this district this season.

(PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAMS.')

PALMERSTON NORTH February 6. ' An exceptionally heavy thunderstorm was experienced in the Manawatu district yesterday afternoon. A stable in town was struck by lightning and the front of the building, was destroyed. No further damage in the district is yet reported. It is raining heavily and it is expected that a heavy loss will result to farmers whose crops are not yet harvested. WELLINGTON, February 6. It is now raining again heavily. In the Wairarapathe fall was phenomenal. It began with a thunderstorm at 2 p.m. yesterday. The thunder and lightning continued all night, and 4|in. were recorded. -It is still raining at Masterton with no sign of clearing. At Petone, only seven miles from Wellington, the fall recorded was only 2.30 inches. There has been a very heavy rain fall since yesterday morning no less than 3.53 in. being recorded. It is still raining but not heavi-, ly, and the weather is thick, much interfering with shipping. There is no sign of the Warrimoo from Vancouver. The Hutt river is unaffected. WESTPORT, February 6. The flood last week did a considerable damage tnroughout the Buller district. At Kara-tea,, 60 miles north of Westport, its effects were disastrous. A large new bridge across the Karamea River was swept away, and also smaller bridges and culverts. Many settlers' farms and homes were flooded, and great damage done to the crops. STRATFORD, February 6. Heaw rain, 2.56 inches, has been recorded, making 14 inches since the beginning of the year. REEFTON, February 6. The present season is the wettest for some years.