WELCOME RAIN.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20903, 10 July 1933, Page 8

WELCOME RAIN.

A GENERAL FALL IN ■ I CANTERBURY. I SNOW IN BACK COUNTRY. Unsettled weather conditions were general throughout Canterbury yesterday. Intermittent rain with cold temperatures was experienced, while at Methven and in the back country snow fell. An improvement was reported from most places during the afternoon, but in no case did it seem that the conditions were settled. About an inch of snow fell at Methven in three hours, and after five hours of intermittent showers there was still a considerable amount left on the ground. The conditions prevailing were very similar in all parts of the province. In the city .27in was [ recorded up to 5 p.m., and the barometer showed a rising tendency. The rain will be welcome in most of the country districts, as the fall last month was on the light side, particularly in view of the dry autumn. The rain of a month or six weeks ago made a wonderful improvement in the condition of the cereal crops, and the present downpour will continue to help the growth. Fortunately it is too early to affect lambing, as there will be only a few lambs appearing until the end of July or the beginning of August. Early yesterday morning at Kaikoura there was light rain from the south, with a cold wind. From noon misty conditions prevailed, and during the afternoon rain fell heavily. The temperature was very cold, and a fall of snow was likely on the ranges. The conditions showed no sign of improving. Culverden had a warm evening on Saturday, but the change in the wind about 9 a.m. yesterday brought rain, showers falling intermittently during the day. The hills behind Oxford were covered with snow, which extended to a low level. Heavy rain fell from daybreak, 105 points being recorded, and creeks running from the hills were carrying more water than they have been for some months. The rain stopped at 4 p.m., but the sky remained threatening. From 7 a.m. rain fell at Akaroa until late in the afternoon, accompanied by a very cold, driving wind. The sky remained overcast, with light showers and a hard wind, and there seemed little prospect of improvement early in the evening. The heaviest rain experienced at Leeston fell between 1 and 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The rain began about 8.45 a.m. and continued throughout the day. Late in the afternoon the sky was unsettled and light showers were falling. From 4 a.m. until 9 a.m. rain fell at Methven, it being followed by snow. Rain set m again and washed much of the snow away, but it was still lying at 5 o'clock. The sky was then very black and threatening. A fine afternoon was experienced at Geraldin* after.. *_*ainy, .JBfiGyngv