THE WEATHER.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12935, 15 October 1907, Page 7

THE WEATHER.

Ruin commenced to foil in the city «nd surrounding districts about 1.30 a.m. yesterday, and fell steadily for somo hours. It was very heavy about 0 a.m., and continued till about 7 a.m. Tho weather cleared up during tho morning, ond tho day turned out fine, an easterly breeze blowing for the greater portion of the duy. Very heavy rain fell in the North Canterbury district on Sunday night and early yesterday. Tho ground, which was already wet and cold, will not be warm enough to promoto rapid growing for ut least a week (reports our correspondent). There was likewise a, fall of snow on tho hills, which also will assist to keep the temperature low, and, moreover, will delay the flock-owners from obtaining access to their back-country 6heep, which they are now anxious to inspect. While tho grass does not grow kindly, and tho sheep do not thrive as flockmasters could wish, thero has been observed to be an abnormal quantity of bloEsom on tho fruit trees. A few high winds may quickly cause thia to disappear, and if fruit crops, particularly peers, plums, and cherries, are to be estimated by the present prospects, the trees will be laden with more fruit than they can bear, or else the fruit will be so small in size that it will not be worth eating. All kinds of vegetation are backward, but a, week' 6 real sunshine would make a decided change, though the season caiirnot be considered otherwise than a very late one. Heavy rain fell at Ashburton for several hours before daylight yesterday morning. After then there were light showers up till noon. Heavy' rain fell again during the afternoon. The rain will have •» very refreshing effect on. the grass and cereal crops. So far the prospects of an abundant grain harvest were never* more promising (writes our correspondent), for both the wheat and oet crops are making particularly healthy growth, and with the prospect of record prices tho outlook for the lucky grain grower is decidedly encouraging. All other kinds of vegetation are making rapid growth, and the whole country just now is bearing a very bright aspect. The fruit trees are simply a mass of blossom. Our Greendale correspondent reports that the weather in that district for some time past ha 6 been very stormy, cold westerly winds prevailing. Some warm weather would be very acceptable now to bring on the grass and crops, which, despite the backward spring, aro looking well. Lambing has l>een fairly good, and up to the usual average. A fairly large acreage is in crop, and, with a good season, somo largo yields are anticipated. Strong nor'-westerly cold winds, with an occasional chowcr of rain and hail, have been experienced in the Springfield district during tho last week (writes our correspondent), and consequently there is very little growth. A tew warm days would bo very acceptable to help the spring feed along. (TRESS ASSOCIATION TEI.EOKAM.) AUCKLAND, October It. The rainfall recorded in Auckland for the last five months has been without a parallel for forty years, and tho fall this month has already passed tho forty year average for October. Up to 9.30 this morning 3.60 inches of rain had l>een recorded, while the e.verage for tho whole of October for the past forty years has been 3.34 inches. Unless tho weather takes up almost immediately, and fine conditions prevail until the end of December, there is every probability of the ve«r being the wettest on record. GREYMOUTH, October 14. The weather has been very boisterous here to-day.