END OF DROUGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 11

END OF DROUGHT

WELCOME RAIN

INESTIMABLE BENEFIT

LARGE AREA SOAKED

The drought has broken at last. An article in "The Post" at the end of last week was headed "Can't It Rain?" Yesterday, last night, and again today a decidedly affirmative answer was given, and a very large proportion of the country has received welcome relief from the drought conditions which had prevailed for so long. The Taranaki and Wellington Provinces have fared best wim really copious falls, and most of the North Island is likely to have further rain again today. In eastern areas, however, falls have not been very heavy. North Auckland, Westland, and Southland have been unlucky in that the rain lias practically missed them, and very little rain has fallen on the West Coast of the South Island, the weather in Southland this morning having cleared up. Wellington's cup has been filled almost to overflowing. A glance at the Hutt River this morning showed that. Whereas only a day or two ago rival oldest inhabitants were discoursing about the record low level which the river had reached, today a turbid flood is sweeping out to sea, indicating that "there has been even heavier rain up country than in the city—and the city's rain has been heavier than any previously experienced this year. • Up to 9 a.m. today the rain gauge at Kelburn recorded a fall of 168 points of rain, and since then more has been added. The present year's rainfall in Wellington up to yesterday had be^>j only 264 points, so by the time the present watery visitation eases off it looks as if the 1939 rainfall will have been about doubled. Even then nothing like the normal average will have been reached. By the end of April in a normal year Wellington's rainfall totals 1248 points. To date this year it has been 264. points plus yesterday's 168 points, making 432 points in all—just over a third of the average. Curiously enough, and showing what vagaries the weather can indulge in,! while the city had 168 points of rain during the 24-hour period ending at 9 a.m. today, recording stations as near as Cape Palliser and Cape Campbell recorded only 12 and 5 points of rain respectively. The last rainfall in Wellington of any consequence was on March 10, nearly six weeks ago, when there was a fall of 75 points. The last respectable rainfall before that was 34 points on February 1. As a result ol the present rain the streams feeding the city reservoirs will again be functioning adequately. Country folk who depend on tanks will be immensely relieved. THE FARMERS REJOICE. Although long postponed, the present rain is not too late in the season to be of great benefit to the farmer. The following message from the Levin correspondent of "The Post" is typical of the position in the southern part of the North Island, where for weeks past the farmers have been anxiously awaiting rain:— "The drought which has lasted all the year broke early this morning in Horowhenua. Heavy drizzling ram began before daylight, followed until "afternoon by intermittent showers, and since 3" o'clock a steady downpour has continued. The Ohau and Otaki Rivers are already running almost bank high. This fall will be of inestimable benefit to both dairy and sheep farmers. The ground is warm and' growth is still possible. The rain has come too late to influence the milk yield, but it will ensure autumn feed and so save hay, which was already being used, for winter feeding. Ewes in particular will profit by the downpour. Mushrooms should be flooding the Wellington market if the rain does not last too long." Palmerston North nad a thunderstorm yesterday afternoon, with rain in the afternoon and evening, and at Foxton the fall totalled 198 points. Trouble is feared in the Manawatu Gorge, as after the long dry spell parts of the cliff face have become loose and large boulders are falling on the road, the negotiation of which requires much care. The position in the Wairarapa, which was getting really desperate from the farmers' point of view, should now be greatly relieved. As in Wellington, the last substantial fall of rain there was on March 10, but it was one of only. 30 points or so, only half what Wellington had. But the rainfall at Featherston last night totalled 235 points—enough to afford enormous relief. Masterton had 159 points. TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR IN TARANAKI. A New Plymouth Press Association message states that on Mount Egmont itself the fall has totalled 11.5 inches and that rain is still falling heavier than ever. This is the heaviest fall recorded in a 24-hour period for some years. The parched state of the ground has prevented flooding, but there is danger, as streams are rising and the downpour is unabated. Seas and tides are very high, but little damage has so far been reported except at the east end of the concrete sea wall, which is being undermined from the rear and pounded by huge trees swept down the river. Wanganui reports a substantial fall of rain and the river is rising rapidly to flood level. It rained practically all day yesterday and last night throughout the province, the fall at Ingle Wood up to 9 a.m. today being as much as 758 points. At Cape Egmont it has been 343 points. LESS LUCKY AREAS. > Hawke's Bay has been less fortunate than the Taranaki and Wellington districts. Although some rain has fallen there, it has not been in any quantity, Napier, for instance, recording only 24 points. But even this little has been very welcome as a partial relief to parched conditions. The Nelson and Marlborough districts, both of which and especially the latter were in dire need of rain, have had partial relief with falls up to about half an inch in places, but these two districts have not fared as well as Wellington and Taranaki. At Farewell Spit 36 points of rain have been recorded, and at Stephen's Island 69 points.

. In the Waikato, according to a Press •Association message received this morning, rain is falling for the second time within the last three months, Although not heavy, it will be sufficient to replenish the domestic water supplies. On many farms in certain areas it has been necessary lately to carry water for miles, but the present downfall will give welcome relief..

HUTT RIVER

Although not yet by any means in heavy flood, the rain has had a very definite effect on the level of the Hutt River. The'sandspits, which were so prominent a feature a few days ago have disappeared, the level of the river has risen several feet, and the colour of the water is changed to a muddy brown.