DROUGHT NOT RELIEVED

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27501, 8 November 1954, Page 10

DROUGHT NOT RELIEVED

Small Rainfall At Week-end RECORD TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY The* drought in Canterbury was no’ much relieved by the rain that canj from the north-west at the week-end. There was not enough and then tn? rain was followed yesterday hy on e of the hottest days this summer. Hopes were taised again late las’ night when rain set in once more--this time from the south-west By midnight one more point had recorded at the weather office at tne Christchurch airport, bringing the total fall for the week-end to n> P° ints - In Christchurch there was moiswre in the air most of the day on Saturday but the rain made little Rnpression on the warm dry soil, wards evening the rain became heavier** but it stopped during , we night after a fall of less than a qua 7 ' ter of an inch. At the obaervaton in the Botanic Gardens 18 points o* rain were registered in the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. yesterday and at Hartwood the fall was three points lessLawns and gardens'in Christchurch looked fresher yesterday morniN after the night’s rain, but all mar*of the fall had disappeared by JJ end of the day. At Hare wo ®®, thermometer was at its highest . this summer earlv in the awrnw when it reached 84.1 degrees. was the highest reading since ee ruary, when 80 degrees were exceefl* at least twice and 93.2 degrees were registered on February 2. , To escape from the heat thousan ■ of people went to the beaches aroun Christchurch during the da y c , ir f member of the South Brighton au Club described the crowd JU area as one of the largest he ever seen. In some country districts there more rain than in Christchurch oui was not enough to ease the d^ oU L that has been becoming worse m last few weeks. In central Mia-Cart bury there was a fall of about ha, L, g . inch in the 24 hours up to n a«w* < nS terday. One farmer said 1 st that the stock feed position in ® . trict was “grim.” but f just able to hold their own. Th® * has had only about one inch of far this spring. , Ashburton had 22 points of rain the 24 hours ended yesterday inorn Akaroa and Port Robertson points, and behind Methven 9 P Ol were recorded. '