LIGHT FALL OF RAIN

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29401, 31 December 1960, Page 7

LIGHT FALL OF RAIN

Ten Points In 12 Hours

Only 10 points of rain was recorded at the Christchurch airport from midnight until noon yesterday, but 25 points fell in the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday. This, however, included a considerable fall from the previous morning.

An official of the meteorological office at the airport estimated that the fall yesterday in central Christchurch was probably heavier than at the airport but comparable figures were not available from the Botanic Gardens as the gauge at that station is read only at 9 a.m. A short, sharp hailstorm in the Square about 12.30 a.m. yesterday was not experienced at the airport. No damage was done to raspberry crops, although picking was stopped for a while. Picking resumed yesterday afternoon. Strawberry crops were not affected and one grower said that the rain would have some beneficial effect as the plants required moisture. Picking of strawberries was, however, suspended until late afternoon, preventing the fruit from reaching the market.

Effect On Crops Yesterday’s rain was not likely to cau4e any complications for the coming harvests, said the fields superintendent of the Department of Agriculture at Christchurch (Mr A. R. Dingwall). If anything, the rain could benefit some of the cereals

by filling the grain out a little more.

Because of the fairly frequent rains through the spring and early summer there was less chance of second growth occurring in grain crops and potato crops were still growing steadily and had not died off.

Some hay would probably have been caught out, as was usually the case with rain at this time of the year and an odd early crop of ryegrass might have been cut. By and large, the harvest looked to be a fortnight or so later this year and providing there was no 'arther rain there should be little or no adverse effect, Mr Dingwall said.