THE WEATHER.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15860, 27 March 1917, Page 3

THE WEATHER.

WELCOME RAIN

Heavy nti'.i feli at Cheviot all day on Sunday, and will be very beneficial to the land, enabling farmers to start ploughing.

There was a .•splendid full of rain over tho Darfield district 011 Saturday, evening and Sunday, varying from 130 to 150 points. As it was not accompanied liy snow on the mountains, it is to bo hoped that there will still bo sufficient warmth to induce a good growth of fodder crops. Grass and rape are •exhausted, lint should still benefit considerably by a late growth. 31 any of tho turnip crops are too far gone to recover, hut later sown turnips will im. prove. Ploughing was at a standstill, but a start can now be made.

After some six weeks of warm, diy weather, a warm soaking downpour sot in at Akaroa on (Saturday evening, and lasted till well on into Sunday afternoon. Tho copious downfall has been joyfully received by everybody, more especially by the dairyman, whose cows were dropping off eadly in their supplv. With the creeks running full and strong, the electrical supply is back 'to normal. The Akaroa Advancement Association's latest movements is in the direction of forming n Drum and Fife Band. Already over 20 boys have signified their willingness-* to become members, and one or two influential citizens have promised to tako a hand in training the b?rs.

The ionn; spell of dry weather at Hanmer Springs -was broken on Sunday morning, \vhen a steady rain set : in.-It-was very much needed, there being very little feed in the district, and the streams vr-rv low . During the day l.SSin fell. "

Tho rain which fell at Aslilyurtbn on Saturday and throughout Sunday was general throughout the county. and a good deal of benefit "Dili be derived. At Longbeach the fall registered totalled 2.2:5 inches, at Mayfield 2.3 inches, and Ashburton 2. To inches.

I llaiu commenced to fall in earnest in Rnkaia on Saturday night, and continued ail dflv Sunday. (Up to H a.m. .yesterday 205 points were recorded, but the rain had then ceased. The downpour has done a tremendous nnrount of <i'ood. The land was thoroughly parched, and the feed problem was becoming acute Ploughing and seeding operations, which had been held up by the dry state of the ground, will now be resumed. The turnip and mangold crops will benefit by the rain, as they were stunted and losing their leaves throuch the drought.

Oar Waiau correspondent writes: —;• Ti;e fiood effects of the fine raius of February were obliterated by the hot, dry weather of the past- mohth. A. welcome change ■ took place on Saturday afternoon, when. after an intensely hot morning, the clouds began to gather. During the evening a few light showers foil, and in the early hours of Sunday morning rain fell fairly heavily for some time, and up to 9 a.n~,. 7o points had been registered. At that hour ihe weather looked like clearing, but shortly afterwards rain set in from the son'-west and continued throughout the greater part of the day. It will ln> of -considerable benefit, but a much heavier fa]J is reauired to uromote growth, and to soften ihe baked soil so thai farmers will be able to push on with their ploughing.