HEAVY RAIN.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20469, 12 February 1932, Page 8

HEAVY RAIN.

GOOD FALLS IN NORTH.

CENTRAL PLAIN STILL PARCHED Heavy south-west rain which fell in several settlements along Ihs foothills and uplands on Wednesday evening and yesterday morning is expected to benefit greatly grass and root growth. Unfortunately for farmers in the middle of the plains the fall was across a narrow belt, and the country most in need of moisture received practically none. In many places in the Cheviot district the fall exceeded an inch, the benefit it brought being enhanced by the fact that it was spread over a fairly long period. Farmers in this area are rejoicing over the improved prospects for a supply of winter feed, for there was a danger, as there still is in the country untouched by this rain, that there would be practically no winter feed for stock. Kaikoura's Heavy Tall.

The heaviest fall was experienced at Kaikoura, where 1.16 in of rain was registered during the twenty-four hours ending £) a.m. yesterday, but in this area rain has not .been bo infrequent as it has been in Canterbury. At Cheviot, whero conditions have been extremely dry, and where disaster has faced many of the settlers consequent on the drought, the rain started with a misty drizzle on Wednesday evening. This continued throughout the night, and developed into real rain in the morning. At noon heavy, soaking rain was falling, and up to that time a total of 1.l Sin had fallen. Then the rain stopped, and a report received last evening stated that conditions were again fine. However, the rain liad been long and heavy, and brought muchneeded relief. "A heavier fall soaked the country round Leamington, about eight miles west of Cheviot. Tall Well Spread. All the upland districts benefited from the fall, according to reports received by telephone yesterday, and as a result turnip-crops are expected to come forward rapidly. Sou'-west showers fell all day and during the evening of Wednesday at Waipara, the weather there clearing yesterday. There was a fall of 36 points. There were also heavy showers at Amberley on Wednesday, where rain started to fall at 5 p.m. There were heavy falls up to 7 p.m., light showers following all the evening. At Waiau, a light misty rain fell throughout Wednesday, heavier showers developing in the evening, and continuing through the night. By 9 a.m. on Thursday a fall of 67 points had been registered and rain was still falling. "This will greatly revive the rape and turnip crops, and will go some way towards stimulating growth in the bare and parched pastures," a report stated. At xnid-day yesterday, although the rain had ceased, the sky was still overcast, and there were prospects of a further fall.

Only a slight drizzle fell at Loburn on Wednesday evening, the fall being too slight to do any good to pastures. There was a light rain early on Wednesday evening at Oxford, and during the next morning a thick misty rain was barely enough to moisten tiio dry ground. This lasted for about two hours, easing off at 11 a.m. In the evening the weather had cleared. Springfield also benefited by the fall. 37 points being registered up tt> 3 p.m. yesterday. Light showers fell at intervals, and are expected to improve pasture to some extent. Heavier rain was experienced in the previous week at Springfield.

lighter Falls. The_ rain came further towards the plain in Mid-Canterbury, but vras light, only 13 points being registered at Methven on Wednesday. It was dull there all day yesterday, but no further rain fell, and the only effect of the previous night's showers was to suspend most of the harvesting for the day. At Leeston, the fall was fairly heavy during yesterday morning, and conditions later pointed to further shoTvers. Three of the principal farming areas closer to the coast, Hangiora, Ashburton, and Kakaia, experienced much lighter falls. Kangiora's rain amounted to 7 points, Ashburton had 17 points up to 9 a.m. yesterday, and at Eakaia thero was only a very light drizzle on Wednesday evening.

P-ospects In Oity. Sain has threatened more than once during the past two days in the City. The clouds which gave the country area its showers on Wednesday evening, banked up over Christchurcli, and a slight drizzle did start at about 1 30 a-m. yesterday, but the lawns and gardens were still dry when the City awoke yesterday morning; and although occasional clouds, obviously moisture-laden; passed overhead, no rain fell during the «a\. abater, however, conditions becamo more overcast, and the prospects of some ram at an early date improved.