WEATHER AND THE COUNTRY

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 134, 3 December 1915, Page 8

WEATHER AND THE COUNTRY

The weather has been fair generally, but cloudiness ht.s increased, and rain has fallen in Southland. In the South, the barometer has fallen steadily. Moderate to strong westerly winds have ruled, and are likely to continue, moderate to strong northward of New Plymouth and Castlepoint, and strong to gale at times elsewhere. Unsettled and cloudy conditions are probable, with rain on the West Coast and in the southernmost districts of the South Island. Increasing haze and cloudiness may be looked for elsewhere, with a change following generally. The barometer still has a falling tendency. The continued dry weather in the Ashburton county is seriously affecting the store sheep market, states the correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, and at Thursday's market there was practically no demand. At the beginning of Novenujer a good rain was experienced, and farmers were jubilant, and with the feed coming on there was a rise in the store sheep market. A line of ewes and lambs which were sold at 10s Id, all counted, changed hands two days later at 11s od, an increase of Is 5d per head, and within one week were again sold at 13s 6d, an increase of 3s sd. the sheep eventually going into the next paddock from which they were sold in the first place. To-day they would be hard to sell at the first-named price. Although the weather of late has been most unseasonable, the mortality among sheep and lambs in the Ohau district has been slight. The Tambing percentage, Tlowever, has Tieen smaller than usual.

Myriads of caterpillars have appeared in the Puha district, East Coast, and settlers are working energetically to save their oat crops. "The weather continues changeable, and has thrown shearing back somewhat,"' writes the Makaretu correspondent of the Napier Herald. "So far, I have not heard of any losses of sheep around about here. I am informed that out on the plains there have been several heavy losers owing to the cold snap. The crops all round are looking splendid, and there is every appearance of a good harvest.''