RAIN AT LAST

Evening Star, Issue 22807, 16 November 1937, Page 8

RAIN AT LAST

THIRSTY GARDENS BENEFIT THUNDER AND LIGHTNING IN CITY Generously drenched l>y a downpour introduced in spectacular fashion by a display of lightning and the accompanying rolls of thunder, gardens in Dunedin received their first beneficial fall of rain last evening for nearly a month. This welcome shower was by way of a Godsend to gardeners, whose only regret was that it did not last longer. As it was, the average distribution of rain round the oity was about 20 points, the last fall of any proportions being on Ootober 21, when 21 points fell. Then it was not so anxiously needed; yesterday it broke what were almost drought conditions. The rain was a comparatively local one, and some suburbs benefited more than others, the coastal areas of St. Clair and St. Hilda being oases in point, the storm appearing to have its origin at sea. The Opoho district, where, incidentally, the reserves department’s nursery is situated, did not share to the full in the shower, hut it was enough, to provide the staff of the superintendent of reserves (Mr D. Tarmook) with the opportunity this morning of planting out summer flowers at the Gardens, Logan Park, Woodbaugh, Albany street, and at the nursery itself. To-day was a busy occasion for professional' and amateur gardener alike, and in their eyes parched flower and vegetable beds and also sunburnt lawns will show the major benefits. of the hour’s deluge and the sporadic showeirs overnight. But the rain will have its sequel in reservoir levels, though it is too early as yet to estimate the value of the fall owing to the water taking time to travel from the catchment areas. However, indicative of the assistance of the storm in adding to depleted supplies is that the fall at Hess Creek at 8 o’clock this morning was 20 points, at Sullivan’s Dam 24 points, and at Where Flat 13 points. The rain had its centre in Dunedin, only half an hour’s fall of a comparatively light nature being the lot of the Taieri Plains district and the country north of the city. There were other aspects of the storm. When Jove reached for his thunderbolts shortly before 6 o’clock, it was a signal for many persons who had placed a misguided trust in the weather and had left overcoats at home through habit to scamper for shelter. The taxis reaped a harvest. Empty tanks at cribs were filled, solving a problem for many a week-ender, and this applied especially to places such as Karitone, where many persons have a permanent home.