RAIN FALLS IN CANTERBURY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27921, 19 March 1956, Page 10

RAIN FALLS IN CANTERBURY

Slight Relief From Drought

STEADY DOWNPOUR NEEDED A cold southerly wind swept over Canterbury yesterday mornin? and with it came rain to bring welcome, if slight relief, to the parched plains. Although by late last evening more than half an inch of rain had fallen in some districts steady falls over the next few days will have to come if drought Conditions are to be relieved completely. Falls ranged from “hardly enough to lay the dust” in Fairlie to .75in in Cheviot Banks Peninsula had small amounts of rain in the Eastern Bays but little elsewhere. Christchurch had 70 points during the day.

Thirty points of rain early last week was already having an effect on the countryside when rain started in the Cheviot district at midday. Grass was turning green but the additional downfall was said to be welcome. Falls reported ranged from 50 points to 75 points. Members of the farming community said they thought the drought had broken. They said they considered another 2in of rain would be needed to get creeks running to fill dams and break the shortage of water for stock. Steady rain broke weeks of drought conditions in the Darfield district. Between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 63 points fell. Farmers said that they welcomed the rain for green feed and root crops but said that much more rain would be needed to bring green grass back on to the pastures.

Last evening rain was still falling steadily in the Darfield area. Culverden District Benefits

Palmside Station, near Culverden. reported that light southerly rain began about 11.30 a.m. and became steady about 2 p.m. Between 11.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. 60 points of rain had been recorded. Farmers in the Culverden district said that the rain would make a big difference to the success of autumn grass sowing and winter green feed. If no early frosts were experienced established green pastures would benefit, they said.

Banks Peninsula did not have as much rain as country inland. Most areas experienced light drizzle in the morning but rain had eased off by afternoon. Rainfall recorded in Akaroa was no more than .2in for the day, although slightly heavier falls were noted in the Eastern Bays. Kaituna and Little River districts were hardly -damped. A sharp heavy fall of rain occurred throughout the Ashburton County with a sudden change from north-west to south-west conditions yesterday morning. The fall was relatively light in the coastal districts where only seven points fell, but was gradually heavier towards the foothills where it was less required. It gives little relief to the drought conditions which still exist over most of the county. The outlook for a winter feed supply for stock is still serious in most areas. The Meteorological Office at Christchurch Airport reported that Fiordland, Southland and Otago had been the only parts of the South Island in which rain had not fallen.

The weather office said that 21 points of rain had been recorded between 12 noon and 6 p.m. Heavy Fa’ls on West Coast

Between 4.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. yesterday. 2.71 inches of rain was recorded at the Karoro meteorological station on the West Coast. Light rain began to fall at midnight on Saturday and between then and 4.30 a.m. yesterday .13 inches of rain fell.

Heavy rain fell in the country districts throughout the day and flooded creeks but reports late last evening stated that the creek levels were falling. Reports from the Automobile Association Canterbury were that the coast road between Greymouth and Westport has been closed by a slip at Costellos Hill, a point about 10 miles south of Westport. The Otira Gorge was reported to be clear apart from surplus water. The Lewis Pass route was also reported to be unaffected.