REFRESHING RAIN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1911, Page 8

REFRESHING RAIN.

Last night the South Island caught some rain which was sorely needed by many farmers. By this a-fternoon heavyclouds had been slowly worked up to Wellington by a lazy southerly, and a. good shower came soon after 2.30 o'clock to cool and freehen the stuffy air. The hills about Wellington havo long been Jaiiguiflhing for a thorough soaking. The forecast issued at 9 o'clock this morning mentions a probability of rain oni thenorth side of Cook Strait within sixteen hours.

Shortly after 3 o'clock this afternoon, Lambfcon-quay, in the vicinity of the Government buildings, was partially flooded. On the eastern side a lake of varying depth extended from the fence in front of the buildings well out to the road. Evidently a high tide had prevented the flow through the storm watercnlvert. Good progress is being made- with the Golden Bay Cement Works, in course of erection near Takaka. A large quantity of machinery is already in situ, but some delay is occasioned by the tartly delivery of certain essential pieces by "*.he British manufacturers. Mr. R. A. Holmes, manager of the Union Bank, Wellington, has been transferred to the acting-management of the Union Bank, Melbourne. He has been for some years stationed in Wellington. Operations at Otira tunnel are proceeding satisfactorily after the holidays. The men have returned to work iji greater numbers, and more punctually than last year, but there is still a shortago of labour at the tunnel works. The Brooklyn Glee Club last evening gave an entertainment at the Ohiro Home, which, according to the dictum of /the large audience, was a " grand affair." In addition to glees, etc., items were rendered by Miss Dcxney, Mesdames Free and M'Clellan, and Messrs. Martin, Coventry, Blake, Wilton, and M'Clellan. At the close of the performance refreshments were dispensed by the Glee Club, the evening terminating with three cheers for the performers and "Auld Lang Syne." Mr. Russell was the accompanist. "You may take ib as an absolute fact," said Mr. Henry (the English petroleum expert at present visiting Taranaki) to a News reporter on Monday, "that the subject of New Zealand oil is noAv well to the front in London and the chief investing cities of the country. This is to some extent due to a Hberal publicity of New Zealand oil news by English newspapers. For some three years those interested' in oil field finance have been expecting important discoveries in this part of the Empire, and if the drilling operations of the near future result in the striking of oil in large quantities, even if the strike is limited to one good well, New Zealand will not fail to secure all the British financial assistance •which, the oil men of New Plymouth desire. The times demand that these fields shall be made to play a part in the great intercolonial oil movement which has for its object the development of oil fields.in all parts of the Empire in order .that the Admiralty may be guaranteed adequate supplies of liquid fuel and petroleum for the vessels of the Navy. Mr. Henry admitted that there are poAverful foreign trading influences in the oil world opposed to the opening up ofi new oilfields in the British colonies, but these, he contended, need not receive serious consideration until the Empire's petroleum sources have actually started to yield at least a fair third of the world's production. Mr. A. E. Roots, being the only person nominated for the position, has been elected unopposed to the vacancy on the Hutt Borough Council, caused by the resignaion of Councillor J. L. Barlow. The Star Boating Club's annual swimming sports will take place on Saturday afternoon, commencing at 2.30. A good programme of events has been arranged, and afternoon tea will be provided.