The Evening Star TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1931. A DRY DOMINION.

Evening Star, Issue 20982, 22 December 1931, Page 8

The Evening Star TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1931. A DRY DOMINION.

The concluding sentence of the Dominion Meteorological Office’s report on the November weather reads: “ Except for the unpleasant local phenomena above mentioned, and for a generally deficient rainfall, the month on tlio whole proved a particularly pleasant one.” The local phenomena comprised the frost following a blizzard which devastated for the time being a number of Central Otago orchards on November 25, and particularly violent hailstorms in the coastal parts of the South Island which did a great deal of damage, especially in Canterbury. Thus wo are reminded of the old saying that what may be fun to some people may be death to others. Unquestionably when tlio clerk of the weather does vouchsafe a genial spring and warm early summer to these parts, the ordinary townsman does appreciate it. One can hardly imagine a more pleasant place than Dunedin iij a good December spell, the month corresponding hero to England’s “ leafy June.” On tho other hand, ono has to cast one’s memory back a very long time to recall such another Christmas month as that which wo are now enjoying; and it follows on at least two earlier months as good of their kind.

Had Dunedin the benefit of the Deep Stream water, there would be no drawback to our enjoyment. But to-day ono hardly knows whether it is legal to affix the hose to the tap. If one decides for oneself that it is permissible, ono makes the mental reservation that the' corporation authorities must be lacking in foresight in two ways—first, for not having long ago brought in a supply from an inexhaustible source; and, second, for not being more niggardly in conserving present stored supplies. Our reservoirs are not full, although our catchment area has been favoured with quite serviceable rainfalls, when, to both north and south, the weather remained quite dry. Sunday last was a caso in point; the rain extended no further north than Waitati. Yet Monday’s gaugings showed a decrease of six and a-quarter million gallons stored, as compared with the gaugings of our three storage reservoirs on the previous Monday. This decrease is rather more than a day’s draw-off by consumers. Thus it can confidently bo said that Dunedin at present is using seven days’ water while the storage feeders are providing six days’ supply. It may be that all this will be changed overnight by a copious downpour that would bring every by-pass into action again.

On the other hand, this cannot be counted upon. Tho dominion records suggest a .fairly general drought. The Meteorological Office reported for September: “Above-average totals were experienced along most of the east coast of the South Island, but all tho western half, Otago, and,tho high country had a deficiency.” And for October the office reported: “Practically the whole of the dominion’ had less than tho normal rainfall, the deficiency being greatest in tho North Island and most pronounced for Hawke’s Bay province.” Also for November the office reported: “Over the greater portion of tho dominion it was a very dry month, Taranaki and isolated places in the far north and south being the only parts of the country whore tho total rainfall exceeded the average. The greatest deficiencies occurred in the Nelson and East Coast provinces.” Those three months are being followed by a December quite in keeping, though within tho past day or two Nelson has been blessed with a copious downpour. Dunedin’s rain gaugings for October and November (tho averages for those months in brackets) were respectively; 1.45 in [3.l6in] and 2.31 in [3.27in]. Oamaru has a far drier story to tell. Her figures for September, October, November were respectively 1.29 in [l.6sin], 0.89 in [l.74in], and 1.04 in [l.93in]. Except that this September Timaru had rather above its average rainfall the South ’ Canterbury figures are no more encouraging than those of North Otago. Last night the Government Meteorologist reported a slight wedge of relatively high pressure moving on New Zealand yesterday, while a depression of considerable intensity is covering the Western Tasman Sea, implying fine weather in the meantime, followed by rain setting in soon in tho western districts and the far south. That does not sound too promising for the districts to the north of us, and they need alleviation badly, in some cases almost desperately. If tho Waitaki hydro-electric scheme were already in full operation some of the drought effects might bo countered by irrigation. It would bo a simple matter to instal pumping stations along the Waitaki River, operated by electric current generated at Kurow, and serving races watering land on the adjacent river flats and terraces. The same proposal has been made for the Upper Clutha Valley. But, partly for lack of funds and partly because of minor delays caused by floods, the Waitaki works are unlikely to bo operating earlier than the middle of 1933, although they have been under construction for over two years. As to the Hawea scheme, it is not even authorised, whether as a private enterprise, a local authority venture, or a Government scheme. Lacking such things, and casting one’s eyes on the figures spent in unemployment relief in tho past two years, one is confirmed in the belief that it is the duty of every Government to prepare plans for national undertakings while times are prosperous and buoyant revenue permits of the putting by of funds to defray their cost, launching them when conditions alter and there is surplus labour seeking employment.