WELCOME RAIN.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19769, 6 November 1929, Page 10

WELCOME RAIN.

GENERAL IN PROVINCE. FURTHER SHOWERS YESTERDAY The rainfall that was general throughout the province on Monday night and the greater part of yesterday, while hardly sufficient for the needs of the "Pasture lands that have suffered in the six weeks' drought, was, nevertheless, a welcome visitation. The weather cleared to some extent in the later part of yesterday afternoon, and disappointment was felt In many districts that the rainfall was of such short duration. However, the Dominion Meteorologist predicts further heavy rainfall throughout the country. Good showers apparently were experienced in the South Canterbury districts on Monday night and yesterday, but the fall was by no means adequate for the needs of the farming lands. Further north it appears that the rain was less general, and in some cases the showers completely missed various districts. Word from Hawarden last night was to the effect that the promised rain did not materialise, the downpour being confined to the hills. Hawarden has suffered from the protracted dry spell to an extent greater than in most places, and it is hoped that the district will participate in the benefit of the rain that has been so welcome in most other parts of the province.

Generally, it is felt that the break in the weather is a very auspicious sign, although the fall will have to be a great deal heavier than that already recorded before the farm lands of the province can recover from the effects of the prolonged dry spell. The barometer yesterday morning showed little movement, said Mr H. F. Baird, of the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory. In the afternoon, however, it fell considerably. This is the usual indication when the forecast says, as it did yesterday, "winds northerly, backing to south soon." The densn clouds moving from the north show that there is plenty of moisture aloft, and it remains to be seen whether a eoW southerly can "under-run" it in Canterbury, and cause further rain. It may be that this desired conspiracy of circumstances will not come about over Canterbury territory.