RAIN IN SOME PARTS. NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 46, 24 February 1908, Page 7

RAIN IN SOME PARTS. NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

[BY TELEGEAPH — PRESS A9SOCIAIION.] TAIHAPE, 22nd February. Refreshing rain is reported at Ohakunc this morning. There were showers at Mataroa and a slight shower at Taihape. CHRISTCHURCH, 22nd February. Rain has been falling at Ashburton, but seems to ba as far off as over here. No rain of any consequence has fallen 'since October, and the winter feed is now hopeless. ELTHAM, This Day. Rain fell at Eltham oh Saturday night, But only a light shower — not sufficient to benefit the grass. [Bt Telegbaph.— Special to The Post.] PALMERSTON, This Day. A fairly heavy shower of lain fell in Palmerston andi the surrounding district on Saturday night, but the weather has again cleared. SHOWERY IN AUCKLAND. [BY TBI,ECIJIA?H — PBRSS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, This Day. Heavy rain fell last night, and th© weather is still showerj". BUSH FIRES CHECKED. [BT TELEOBArn. — riIESS ASSOCIATION.] /REEFTON, This Day. Rain on Satuidny checked tho bush fires. The town water supply has been temporarily repaired, but a good deal of damage was done to tho fluming. Tho Electric Light Company's fluming was badly injured, and will take a week to repair. THE PRICE OF STOCK. FALL IN VALUE OF STORE SHEEP. The stock market has not been affected to the extent, one might believe, by the drought and bush fires. Prices for fat sheep have been very well maintained sine© January, all things considered, but "stores" show a marked decline. At present the meat freezing companies arc putting through large consignments for freezing, and farmers have had the satisfaction of realising good average prices. Business in the freezing line is brisk, but a well-in-formed authority states that the activity is not unusual. The volume of trado is only slightly in oxeecs of that at the same season last year, he says. On the other hand, big transactions in "stores" are reported. Pasture has been swept away hy the fires and farmers are oblig-ed to quit at low values. Another authority states that the decline in stores since January may be put down at from 5s to 6s per head. A farmer who was in Wellington at the recent wool sales told our informant that he had sold every hcof on his land, but he was not unduly concerned. The "spell" would do ths land good, and when the grass came on again he would be able to buy in at a rate v/hich. would not affect his financial position to any appreciable extent. AROUND STRATFORD. [BT TELEGEAPn.— PKES3 A3SOOIATION.] STRATFORD, This Day. Light rain fell here during Saturday night, and the weather is now threatening. In the back country about five hours' steady rain occurred. IN NORTH TARANAKI. NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. Light rain fell on Saturday night and Sunday morning, and again' this morning. It seems general o\er Noirh Tara,naki< and though insufficient to benefit pastures much, is quite enough ,to remove all anMcty about fires. The sky is still overcast and threatening.