RAIN STILL NEEDED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21423, 15 March 1935, Page 16

RAIN STILL NEEDED

DROUGHT AREAS ON PLAINS variable conditions over province HEAVY FALLS BENEFIT CROPS IV i-OME DISTRICTS Scudding clouds driven before a moderate north-easterly wind brought ram In a few coastal districts on Wednesday ninlu and yesterday morning but. with the exception of Banks Peninsula, no districts had substantial falls. In patchwork patten the Canterbury Plains remain do'.ted with areas in which virtual drought conditions exist and where rain is still urgently needed within the next week or 10 clays to avoid the danger of an acute Shortage of winter feed for stock. The distribution of the substantial rains in late February was most uneven as has been, also, that of the many showers that have been driven over the ranges or. to Canterbury foothills by the nor'-westcrs. A general mrvey made of the North Canterbury province yesterday indicates that in lhp majority of districts the drought h»y. bfcn broken and that, given a normal autumn, a satisfactory winter may be anticipated. In the shortage of the fummcr and early autumn, sheep have fared better than cattle, and this has been especially the case in recent , weeks when the growth of young grass snd fattening crops has been almost remarkable where rain has fallen. An outstanding feature is that districts Tacing the winter with most equanimity arc those in which there was considerable conservation of feed during the great flush of growth last spring. The wisdom of providing sgainst an evil day could not have been more clearly demonstrated than ciuring this season. Dry Inland Celt Taking a broad review of the areas north of Christchurch to Kaikoura in a broad belt back to the ranges it is most noticeable that the rains which have so substantially benefited the coastal districts have missed a wide strip inland. That strip, extending from Culverden, Hawarden, Waikari, and right down through Amberley, i* still suffering acutely and rain is urgently wanted. The title for "the "riest. spot in North Canterbury" would certainly be contested among the districts mentioned with Hawarden find Waikari flats probably most favoured. Farmers in these districts, while anxious, agree that there are *.till a few weeks left for growth before the frcst season if rain falls. Those with the longest experience contend that a dry autumn is usually a long autumn, and hope may extend right on to the end of April. The higher country behind Hawarden on to the southern range has had rain recently

mid has brightened considerably. Grass ic growing but turnips are not good. Scarcity of Chaff Of the northern districts, Cheviot stands out like an oasis. Good coastal showers have heartened tops and flats alike and grass and turnips are recovering strong growth. Sheep are well provided for. The only shortage in the district appears to be in chaff—oat stacks are more scarce than usual. Autumn sown pastures have struck exceedingly well. In the northern district:; closer at hand the season has hern anxious because of certain failures of the water race systems for watering slock. The principal trouble occurred at Oxford where the supply from the Eyre river failed. A pumping plant installed to alleviate the distress caused to stock worked for a time, but has been closed down again, and normal supply to the races is being gradually restored. Yesterday the water had not reached the end of all the races; but the outlook was brighter In the Eyre County, where the water race supply j s taken from the Waipakanri at Brown's Rock there has pee/i no trouble, but the drought has Men acute, and, as elsewhere, in all Wt dairying areas the shortage of feed

is seriously affecting the milk supply and the prospects for the winter for dairy cattle. Crops have not been so seriously affected although in the driest areas it is stated that a drop on normal production of up to 15 per cent, has been recorded. Serious Pligrht The urgent need for rain still exists in the rain-starved belt inland which extends through from north of Christchurch through Rolleston, Burnham, Selwyn, and back to Charing Cross. Paddocks are burnt up and winter feed will be very scarce even if rain falls within a week! Without immediate rain the plight of some of the stock in these areas will be pitiable. In the north-west there is always the alleviation from drought provided by the squally nor'-west storms which drive occasional rain clouds on to the foothills on the Canterbury side of the ranges and out a little way on to the plains. This season has been no exception, but there have been some remarkable features. Seme of the nor'west storms had been extraordinarily violent and the precipitation of rain more abundant than usual. On the other hand the distribution has been more uneven and while from Sheffield and higher country in that area it is reported that pastures are rich with young growth even at this stage and fattening crops are excellent, the Waimakariri gorge area reports most unsatisfactory conditions with rain poorly distributed. Towards the head of the Hawkins river there is a belt of many miles, in which conditions are splendid to-day, while a few miles away drought conditions persist. The store lambs sent to the plains from the firstmentioned area have never looked better than during this season. That is a most reliable indication of feed conditions and prospects for a good winter. Some Heavy Falls Between Dunsandel, Rakaia, and Methven there is a solid belt which demonstrates the beneficial effect of February rains'. Dunsandel's drought is history and good rains within the next few weeks will mean a healthy prospect for the winter. Methven district has had four inches of rain within the last three weeks and wonderful growth has resulted. Some of the turnip crops stand two feet high and the later crops are looking very well. The indifferent, germination caused by the drought earlier this season is amply evidenced by the patchiness of the crops everywhere. The areas adjacent which are still wanting more rain are Lauriston and Winchmore. Fortunately in the Methven district the flush of growth in the spring last year was turned to account and an unusually large amount of hay was made. This is giving the farmers much satisfaction now that the season has become more adverse. Thousands of tons of hay were baled in the Methven district alone. Growth on Peninsula Banks Peninsula provides the most interesting weather history of this season. When most of Canterbury cries for rain Banks Peninsula expresses thanks for a really good summer season. The autumn has been more severe, but there has been an abundance of rain on the tops, where similar growth has not been seen for years. The little rain of Wednesday night on the plains was hardly worth mention- j ing. On the Peninsula more than half I an inch fell in most places. Water ran down the sides of the roads yesterday. At the back of Pigeon Bay and on all j the summits heavy clouds precipitated.' On the lower levels and flats two inches of rain are needed to ensure a good growth for winter feed. Roughage for cattle is scarce, and values of young store cattle have declined accoringly. Surpluses are being marketed now instead of later as would be j usual. There is a belt from the back of Kinloch, near Goat Peak, to Peraki which has had two inches of rain within a short period. Also remarkable is the gathering of great crops of mushrooms from the tops this season—better crops than were found on the lower levels Stock are looking better than in any other part of the province, but what effect the dry season earlier will have on the Peninsula's reputation as the chief provider of Christchurch's beef supply remains to be seen. It will be a serious effect if more rain is not recorded within the next few weeks before the frosts.