A BLESSED RAIN

Evening Star, Issue 22805, 13 November 1937, Page 28

A BLESSED RAIN

AUCKLAND DROUGHT FEARS DiSSIPATED [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, November 12. The hopes of the farming community for a penetrating rain to. meet the needs of the parched pastures were to some extent realised to-day, whei« showers were experienced in many parts of the Auckland province. Although the fall varied considerably in intensity, it has served to stem the fears of producers for an unseasonable drought, and, if the rain continues tomorrow, it should do much to restore conditions to normal. Driving intermittent rain, accompanied by a fresh to strong east to north-easterly breeze, was experienced in Auckland.

The Whangarei correspondent of the * New Zealand Herald ’ telegraphed tonight that the rain would mean the saving of thousands of pounds to the primary producers in the district. Feed has been so short in some localities that farmers have been obliged to turn their stock into the hay paddocks. Milk production has shown signs of falling off. Some farmers were running sort of water for household purposes.

A downpour is necessary to benefit the land in the ])argaviflle"area, where light showers have fallen since Thursday night. With nothing more than a drizzle experienced at Hamilton, the change in conditions has so far brought no appreciable relief in the Waikato area. In addition to the threat of declining production, a serious position has arisen in regard to harvesting, as the dry weather has greatly affected the yield of grass available for hay and ensilage. There is no body in the ■grass, which is rapidly going to seed, and there are indications that the crops of supplementary fodder will be exceptionally light. In the Pukekohe district the long dry spell has had a retarding influence on green leaf crops, while it was esti-to-day that the expected yields of onions and potatoes had been reduced by between 10 and 30 per cent. The rain, however, will prove of very considerable benefit.