Steady Rain Relieves Drought Threat

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28446, 28 November 1957, Page 14

Steady Rain Relieves Drought Threat

Steady, soaking rain throughout most parts of Canterbury early yesterday came at the right time to bring relief to North Canterbury and the plains areas threatened with a minor drought after the recent succession of north-west winds and dry weather.

From the early hours of the morning until after midday country districts experienced steady, and at times heavy, rain, with falls of more than an inch on the plains, and more than two inches nearer the foothills. Although the rain has interrupted shearing and haymaking, farmers generally welcomed the rain as freshening pastures beginning to show signs of the northwest dry spell, bringing on clover and lucerne crops, and ensuring further fattening fodder for lambs and later cuts of hay. Fire danger in the province has also been reduced in the meantime.

The welcome relief that the rain has brought to North Canterbury is illustrated by a Waikari farmer’s remark yesterday: “The rain has come just at the right time after a month of continuous northwest weather and will freshen up the pastures which on the lighter land and the down country were beginning to show the effect of the drought. The position would have been serious as far as crops were concerned if the dry weather had continued.” The rain was “most welcome indeed,” said a man at Culverden, adding that the area had been “fairly burnt up.” Nearer the foothills, at Oxford, Springfield, and Methven, the weather has been more showery, and many farmers consider they could well have done without the rain, which will delay shearing and cause a lag in baling hay. The Springfield area has had more than seven inches of rain for the month by now. Ewes in Sheds

In these districts, the weather was cold enough to necessitate shedding of newly-shorn ewes in some cases.

In the Darfield district, especially, hay-making has been interrupted by the rain, and one farmer was reported as having had 2000 bales of hay lying in his paddocks when the rain fell, most of which will be damaged. Fodder crops such as rape on the lighter plains land will benefit considerably from the rain as may recently-sown crops of swedes and chou moellier. Further cuttings of lucerne should be ensured, and ewes should not dry off so early. Near the foothills, the rain began late on Tuesday evening, and fell steadily throughout the night, with some heavy downpours. It continued throughout yesterday morning, easing off about noon or in the early afternoon. On the plains, the rain had for the most part stopped just before midday. Falls Recorded The following falls were recorded in country districts:—Kaikoura, .48in; Culverden, 1.28 in; Scargill, 1.16 in; Waikari, 2.02 in; Oxford, 2.35 in; Rangiora, 1.06 in; Springfield, 2.09 in; Sheffield, 2.01 in; Waddington, 1.17 in; Darfield, 1.85 in; Methven, 2.05 in; Pleasant Point, 1.25 in. After light rain on Tuesday evening, Christchurch experienced, heavy rain during the early hours of yesterday morning. From 9 p.m. on Tuesday to 9 a.m. yesterday, 1.14 in had fallen, and from 6 a.m. yesterday to noon, the fall was .41in. Light showers only fell yesterday afternoon,

.08in being recorded from noon to 6 p.m. In parts of the city, there was a little surface flooding after the heavy overnight rain, but there was no real trouble. Drains blocked by leaves and rubbish blown about during the recent north-west winds were the main cause of minor surface water. As with the country districts, the rain brought relief to the citv from a threatened shortage of water. The dry weather recently has been a drain on the city’s water supply. There have been shortages in the Hornby, Paparua, and Sockburn areas. Last week-end. City Council pumping stations delivered about 21m gallons of water on both Saturday and Sunday. The rain will replenish storage considerably. Freshes in Rivers Freshes in the Waimakariri. Ashley, and Eyre rivers occurred yesterday as a result of the rain, although not sufficient to cause serious flood danger or danger to stock. The Waimakariri river rose nearly nine feet at the Gorge bridge, but the peak passed the Main North road bridge last evening safely with the rain having stopped earlier in the day. Flood warnings were issued by the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday, but apart from a little erosion at Stewart’s Gully, no damage was done by the fresh.