RAIN CONTINUES.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20869, 31 May 1933, Page 10

RAIN CONTINUES.

FARM LANDS BENEFIT. MILD CONDITIONS AND LACK OF WIND. A continuance of the soaking rain that set in during the weekend was welcomed yesterday by farmers throughout the province. Good falls have been recorded in the last few days in practically all districts. Fortunately comparatively mild conditions have accompanied the rain, and the absence of strong winds has enabled the moisture to bring the maximum benefit to the parched farm lands. Reports from the country last evening indicated that there was no immediate prospect of the weather clearing, although by 11 o'clock the sky, as seen from the city, was clear overhead.

The rainfall in Christchurch for the 24 hours up to 5 p.m. yesterdav was 31 points, bringing the total fair since Sunday evening to just less than an inch. The weather was showery throughout the day, but the rain ceased shortly after 5 o'clock.

North Canterbury. The week-end fall was heaviest in North Canterbury, and again yesterday good falls were recorded in the northern districts. Further showers were experienced at Culverden and Cheviot following a change to the south-west yesterday morning, and there was no sign of a break last evening. A temporary clearance in the weather early yesterday morning threatened a frost at Rangiora, but the drizzle set in again from the north-west and continued through the day. The light drizzle persisted all day at Oxford, and although the rain had stopped last evening there was no break in the clouds that were hanging low over the hills. There is practically no snow except on the high levels now, and farmers are hopeful that they will escape the frost that usually follows winter rains. There was a good fall of 21 points at Hororata on Monday night, and further heavier showers fell yesterday. The rainfall at Leeston has not been heavy, although a light drizzle fell steadily through Monday night. The rain eased off yesterday morning, and there was little more until some further light showers fell last night. Mid-Canterbury. After several days of clamp, misty weather steady rain began to fall at Rakaia in the early hours yesterday morning, and continued during tha greater part of the day. At 5 p.m. 51 points had been recorded, and rain was still falling. The rain was very welcome to farmers, and will do an amount of good to the farm lands. Heavy rain was experienced in Ashburton yesterday following the light drizzle of the preceding day. A" cold southerly wind made conditions very wintry. Forty-three points were recorded for the 24 hours ud to 9 a.m. yesterday, making a total of one inch of rain since Wednesday last, when the weather broke. A further 32 points had fallen by 6 o'clock last evening. At Methven the fall up to 9 o'clock yesterday morning was 59 points, and 'there was a light but steady rain through the day. Ram was still falling last evening.