DRY WEATHER ENDED

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22656, 10 March 1939, Page 12

DRY WEATHER ENDED

RELIEF TO KAIKOURA DISTRICT BETTER PROSPECTS FOR DAIRYING (From Our Own Reporter.) KAIKOURA, March 9. For many weeks past, Kaikoura has suffered badly from the continued dry weather, and up till yesterday prospects for .dairy farmers were assuming serious proportions. The pastures were becoming parched, and creeks which could usually be depended upon to provide water were dried up. The milk supply was also badly affected. A drizzling rain, set in early yesterday afternoon, and, gradually increasing in volume, continued until this afternoon. The weather is still dull, and threatening, and there is a. prospect of a further fall. The rain is something of a godsend, and will ensure a plenitude of winter feed for the big number, of dairy stock in and around Kaikoura.

The strong winds have done more than anything else to dry up the country, and last month there was experienced the strongest gale in 30 years. Several cowsheds and woolsheds were levelled to the ground, and one farmer considers it will take £SOO to replace his sheds and machinery. The wind, which was of terrific force, •uprooted trees, and an outbreak of fire threatened to leave several families homeless. Haystacks suffered severely from the 'gale and in many cases farmers have found it necessary to have pressed the hay that is left. One farmer on inspecting his farm the morning after the wind, found that a beautiful crop of oats in stook bad almost completely disappeared. It was expected' that four stacks would result from the paddock, but only two dray loads were collected. It is thought that the oat sheaves were lifted bodily and blown out to sea 1 . Trees in the, neighbouring bush, apparently well sheltered, were uprooted and generally the damage was serious. The copious rainfall has put new heart into those engaged in the dairying industry, and' has also made the country safe from fires.

RAIN BENEFITS ORCHARDS

RICKING WILL BE DELAYED

The rain which has fallen the last few days has been of great benefit to the orchards in the Loburn district. •

A slight delay in the picking of Jonathan and Delicious ' apples will be caused, and the fruit will not be ready until the end of this month.

Cox’s Orange apples are at present being picked for export.

RAIN IN ASHBURTON COUNTY

Tlie faA of rain which began in the Ashburton early on Wednesday morning continued yesterday. There was a short break in the weather in the morning, but a steady drizzle set in about mid-day. A fall of .52 inches was recorded at the Ashburton domain weather station.up to 9 o’clock yesterday morning, making the total fall since the rain began .69 inches.