WEATHER AND CROPS

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 86, 9 October 1915, Page 6

WEATHER AND CROPS

The general rainfall in East Coast districts has now practically ceased, but reports, indicate that it has been of sufficiently long duration. The meteorological report states : — Cloudy and misty weather has prevailed, and scattered showers are reported in many parts of the country this morning. The barometer is rising slightly in the north, but the winds have changed, westerlies now predominating. The forecast is still for variable winds, moderate to strong northerlies being most in evidence. The weather is likely to be changeable, and showery in many parts. After Wednesday of next week a stormy period of one or two days may be looked for. In the Wairarapa, and generally on the East Coast, the weather is now what town-folk described as "improved." Writing in the Farmers' Union Advocate, "Agricola" gives a general survey of conditions before the rain. "All down the East Coast from Blenheim to below Oamaru, the country is very dry, the hilly country, however, faring the best, owing to north-west rains. But the nor' -westers in other parts have done harm, because they have been robbed of their moisture, and become dry and parched in the extreme by the time they reach the lower levels. Southland has had a good time, the dry weather suiting it. Even in Southland, however, the continued dry weather is not being viewed with a great deal of favour. . . In the North Island fairly copious rains have fallen. Some districts, it is true, such as the Wairarapa, are complaining of dry weather, but even there the rainfall has been sufficient 'to keep the country going. The higher land may be suffering, but all over the Island, as far as I can see, the green paddocks are a sight for sore eyes, from the southern portion of the Dominion." Light rain commenced to fall in the district on Wednesday night (reports the Waipawa correspondent of the Hawkes Bay Herald), and continuing until a fairly heavy fall is taking place on Thursday afternoon. The rain which fell yesterday and last night (writes the Wairarapa Daily Times on Friday) did a considerable amount of good to the crops and pasi tures in the Masterton district.