THE WEATHER. IS THE RAIN COMING?

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 34, 10 February 1908, Page 8

THE WEATHER. IS THE RAIN COMING?

After sixteen hours, counted fiom 9 o'clock this morning, Wellington and many other parts of New Zeai.md may expect rain, according to the official forecast published to-day. There aie two disturbances abroad, and if they do not unkindly neutralise each other the parched land may have a drink at last At 9 a..m. the clouds had energy enough at Nelson to release seme of their moisture, and they behaved similarly at the Denley and Oainaiu, but other stations were gloomy at- best, with a comparatively low baiometer but a high thermometer. In Wellington during the la&t couple of days a brisk northerly found «i plaything in the dust which long days of drought had prepared for it, and shot the particles plentifully into- the cye.s of wayfarers. All day dusky clouds have been hoveling over the city, but they appear loth to give up any of the water winch is so eagerly desired. However, at midnight sleepers may awake to hear the showers thumping on the roofs if this latest hope of relief does net prove as vain as others. [BY TELEGBArH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. On Saturday, in Christchmvh, the temperature was 79 degrees in the shade. Yesterday it rose to 90 degrees in the &hade. To-day, though the weather is warm, the sky is overcast, and rain is indicated. It is much hoped for. WAIROA, This Day. The weather continues hot and dry. It is taid to be the greatest drought since 1868. Cattle look bad everywhere, but sheep are holding out well. NELSON WANTS RAIN. NELSON, This Day. About a couple of hours' rain, suffi cient to lay the dust, and no more, fell this morning, the first since a light fall on Christmas Eve. The weather is still cloudy, but it is not raining nov. Hop-picking has commenced, but tho crop is exceedingly light, and picking is expected to be completed within three weeks. Uarley is suffering from the drought. Feed is burnt up and root crops late sown will probably prove a failure.

Gradually the penny tramway coupons arc informally becoming legal tender for copper. There is at least one Wellington citizen who offers a coupon when he is buying a paper in the stieot, and gets the little slip accepted. Other cases in which the coupons, in small quantities, have been received as cash, aro recorded. Another big opening ceremony is in sight Christchurcn and Westland are anxious to make the formal opening of the Arthur's Pass tunnel impressive, iand arc working for a display. Mr. [H. Quane, of Christchurch, chairman of the East and West Coast Railway League, has written to Mr. Neil M'Lean, requesting him to agree to having the opening done on the Bcaley side. Mr. M"Lean has replied, deferring decision till his brother returns in April. Even tho Government Printing Office, I a » 7 ery staid institution, has succumbed I to the glamour of three-colour reproduction. The office's first attempt in this class of work, which seemed to make "Sleep" so reprehensible in the eyes of I the- police recently, is devoted to the j xie\v bath buildings of Rotorua, and the effort is meritorious. Interviewed by a Bay of Plenty Times reporter last week, Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., for Wellington Central, deplored the fact that fruit was rotting on the ground in and about Tauranga, and he urged that steps should be taken to find an outlet in W ellington and other southern towns for the produce of the local orchards. Mr. Fisher has been spending three weeks id the district. A deputation from the Wellington Racing Club will wait upon the Minister for Public Works (Hen. W. HallJones) on Wednesday morning, and urge reasons' why bettor provision should bo made for tne entraining of people going to and coming from the Trentham course, so as to avoid a repetition, of the scenes which occurred at the railway stations during the recent races. To a charge' of using obscene language Robert James Christopher Seal pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate's Court, before Mr! Riddell, S.M., this morning. Accused was defended by Mr. Toogood. Three witnesses were called for the defence, and they stated that no obscene language had been used. His Worship said the case was a suspicious one, but the benefit of the doubt would have to be given in favour of defendant. The charge was dismissed. It is not perhaps generally known that thousands of men who enter the port each year take part in the Sunday and week-day services at the Missions to Seamen. That sailors are fond of singing goes without saying. In nine years five organs (mostly old and small ones) have been in commission at the mission. Now, however; the organ at present in use has been found wanting, and funds are required for a new one. It is suggested that kindly-disposed people might be prepared to contribute small sums for the purchase of a suitable org/n for tho mission. Public interest in the proposal for the changing of the dock site is, not abating, and people arc curious to hear tho opinion of Mr. Neil M'Lean, a member of the contracting firm. Mr. R. Fletcher has quoted Mi. M'Lean in support of his pica for a change, but Mr. M'Lean himself prefers to hold his peace till the pioper time comes for speech. He remarked this morning that tho position in which he was placed in relation to the contract prevented him from giving public utterance to his opinions about tho suitability of the Clyde-quay site. A number of policemen from Mount Cook station yesterday morning made a raiJl upon a house in Foresters' Lane, off Tory-street, which was supposed to have been used for the illicit sale of liquor. A quantity of spirits is stated to have been seized, and the names ot people on the premises were taken. Under tEe auspices of the Victoria College branch of the World Students' Christian Federation a meeting was. held in St. John's schoolroom last evening. Addresses were given by tht llev. J. Reed Glascon, and Mr. H. J. Gill, M.A. LL.B. Tho civil sittings of the Supreme Court were to have opened this morning. Owing to various circumstances, nowever, very little progress was made. In regard to the case of Philip H. Gosso v. F. G. Bolton and another (partition, etc.), an adjournment had to be made, as plaintiff had become a bankrupt since the cai3 was filed. The other case set down fdr hearing to-day was that of Michael S. Duffy v W. J. Hardie, claim £350, wages and accounts. Before Mr. Justice Chapman, Mr. Bunny for the defendant applied for an adjournment, and the application was granted till Friday, when the matter will be mentioned again. Mi\ Dunno appeared for the plaintiff. The court then adjourned until 10 o'clock to-mor-row morning. There is now on view at Mr. T. Shiolds's shop, in Willis-street, a fine collection of prizes won by the Wellington swimmers at Masterton on Anniver sarv Day,