A SPLENDID RAIN.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18202, 13 October 1924, Page 8

A SPLENDID RAIN.

MID-CANTERBURY "VISITATION.

Although it was feared that Christchurch. like the surrounding districts, was to suffer a spring drought, the rain last week dissipated the ide 3, and again on Saturday an exceptionally heavy rainfall was experienced in the morningShortly before midday the weather was at its worst, the rain being the heavies * experienced so faT this season. In the afternoon, however, the clouds cleared, and about 5 p.m. the sun broke through. Saturday night was cold and clear and yesterday broke fine and sunny, though the temperature was reduced by the strong north-easterly which prevailed throughout the day.

The rains of the early paTt of the month did incalculable good to the province as a whole, but a number of districts could have done with much more. Any shortcomings, howc\er, so far as Mid-Canterbury is concerned, were amply overtaken on Saturday. The rain came from the south, starting shortly after midnight on Friday, and late in the morning it developed into a heaw and continued downpour. In the Rakaia district it was the heaviest fall of the year —probably the heaviest since the historic flood of May, 1923. If the condition of the roads provide criterion the countryside must have received a thorough soaking. From llighbank to Rakaia, and along the stretch that is described as a road, j between Rakaia and Bankside, the roads on Saturday forenoon were a succession of miniature lakelets. An excellent rain fell also through the Dunsandel district and the lOllesmerc county, but it was not so heavy as further south. Tho countryside, as a result of the earlier rains, was looking splendid. Cereal crops and pastures had shown phenomenal growth during tho fortnight, and spring-sown wheat, for once, "caught it right." A number of fields arc to be seen showing well through the ground, and it is a fair assumption that there has been a good spring sowing of either wheat or oats. The mild winter favoured a good rooting of autumn-sown wheat and Saturday downpour, which will, penetrate well into the soil and provide a much-needed reserve of moisture, should allay all apprehension as to the early summer prospects. The rain fell most heavily along the coast, which has not been so fortunate in the .earlier visitations the districts nearer the hills. After threatening all day Friday rain bogan to fall heavily in Timaru soon after J) o'clock on Friday night, and continued steadily for twelve hours, during which time 114 points were registered at Timaru Park, this being the heaviest fall in Timaru for very many months (telegraphs our correspondent). The sky cleared towards noon and the afternoon was bright and fine. Our Waimate correspondent telegraphs:— Sixty-four points of rain were registered for Friday night's fallj £1 points were recorded at Morven. Rain fell for several hours at Ashburton on Saturday morning, and at <) o'clock 0.42 in. was registered. At Mothven the rain commenced at about 6.45 a.m., and from 8 o'clock till 10 it came down very heavily. There was something approaching a deluge of rain all through the Highbank, Corwar, Marcwiti,, Barrhill, Rokeby ana Rakaia districts, and a big volume of flowed down each side of the road along the twenty-mile stretch from Highbank to Rakaia. These parts of the Ashbiirton district are looking remarkably well at present. The growth of both wheat and oats is very vigorous. There is a much wider expanse under white crop than is generally supposed, and with a favourable season from now on there should be in the Highbank, Corwar and Barrhill districts many oat crops giving average yields varying from 40 to 50 bushels an acre, and manv wheat crops which are promising at the present time to give yields from 35 up to 40 bushels and over. # The seed went in when the soil was in a nice mellow condition, and the seed run out evenly. The top growth was slow for a while owing to the lengthy spell of dry weather, but good root growth was made and when the rains did come the blades of both wheat and oats shot up vigorously. There is scarcely a bare patch to be seen in any of the paddocks, and all the grain crops have a remarkably strong, healthy looking colour. Frequent showers have been experienced during the past week (writes our Pendarves correspondent), and early on Saturday morning heavy rain set in. October has, therefore, already added considerably to the rainfall, and as the growth of crops flepends . so much on the rainfall in October and November, the outlook at present is distinctly promising.

More refreshing showers have fallen. The countryside presents a very pleasing and conditions are much more promising (writes our Balcairn cojprespondent). After threatening all the week rain set in soon after daybreak on Saturday. and Tip till 5*.30 23 points were registered at the post office gauge at Mcthveu (writes our correspondent), 'ihe rain is welcome and will do a lot of good. Feed is coming, away well, and with this additional fall of rain there should be no further fear of a shortage. People in the township now have a gotfd supply of water in their tanks, and there should be sufficient in store until the high pressure water supply scheme, which is now well in hand, is completed.