THE WEATHER.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15895, 8 May 1917, Page 7

THE WEATHER.

CONDITIONS STILL GLOOMY

Yesterday broke fine. The rain during tho night eased off as tho dawn approached, and tho day was dull, with occasional glimpses of sunshine. At night black masses of clouds continued to ecud across the sky, and about II o'clock showery conditions again set in.

. Our "Waiau correspondent writes:— The rain of a week ago was followed by frosts, and Friday morning was exceptionally raw, but in the afternoon the temperature rose somewhat, and rain commenced to fall, and continued steadily up to midnight on Saturday. Sunday was fine, but rain again fell for several hours on Sunday night. Tho temperaturo throughout -was comparatively high, and no more snow has fallen on tho high levels. So far the grass., which is now fairly plentiful, I has not been checked in its growth, and oats sown for green feed are looking exceedingly wen. The rain which commenced to fall at Ashburton early on Saturday morning continued well into Saturday night, 1.28 inches being registered at tho Domain weather station. It cleared on Sunday, but yesterday it was dull and threatening throughout the day. At Longbeach the rain was muvh heavier, 1.71 inches being recorded. .Saturday's heavy rainfall lasted for :ho full twenty-four hours (writes our Akaroa correspondent). It is long months since our hillsides and valleys received such a thorough soaking. The creeks, that have been uncommonly quiet through the summer and autumn, are now loudly and merrily proclaiming their delight at carrying a full load once more. Akaroa citizens, too, rejoiced at tho sound, for they concluded tho electric light reservoir would be full, aud that, therefore, thero would bo no lack of light or power. But, alas! when one energetic ratepayer, whose active interest in borough concerns carries him and late, reached tho reservoir on Sunday morning, he found it not half full! Thero was a blockage at the intakes.

Tho rain -which commenced to fall at Springston oarly on Saturday morning and continued heavily all day, will hinder the potato, digging and seed sowing, both of which are in full swing. The potato crops in most instances are very "good, in many cases yielding TO to 12 tons to the acre. Some exceptionally large potatoes aTe to be soon in the district, some weighing between 31b and 4lb each. Indications are that a largo area of wheat and oats will be sown should the weather prove suitable. The autumn-sown grass and oats have made good growth, also the old pasture, and should tho frosts koep away for a few weeks longer, there will be some good winter feed in 6pite of the failure of the turnip crop and in many instances tho, mangold crop also.