DRIEST IN HISTORY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20568, 30 May 1941, Page 7

DRIEST IN HISTORY

RAINFALL FOR MAY GISBORNE DISTRICT MILD AUTUMN WEATHER If there is no rain to-day or tomorrow, the present month will be the driest May in the recorded history of the Gisborne district.

Only .79in. of rain has fallen up to the present, compared with an average of 5.3 in. for May. The previous driest May was in 1930. when the reading for the month was 1.1 in., while only thrice previously has the May rainfall fallen below 2in. A further occasion was in 1927, when the total was I.7in.

Despite the dry weather, conditions have been ideal. The growth in the pastures continued at a great rate until less than a fortnight ago, when sharp frosts retarded the growth.

The result is that there is an abundance of green feed everywhere in the district, and farmers have no fear of the winter, particularly as most have adequate supplies of some kind of supplementary fodder. The stock everywhere is in excellent condition.

This month’s dry weather has had no adverse effect on the countryside, and, in fact, has helped farmers in their seasonal work, although any lengthy spell of dry weather during the winter might have an effect upon the coming season’s production. At present, however, the ground is not feeling any absence of moisture, for there were good rains late in March and almost an average rainfall in April. The rainfall for the year to date is 17.46 in.

The picking of maize has been help-, ed considerably as a result of the fine weather prevailing since the operations began a few weeks ago, and if further fine weather is experienced the job throughout the district may be completed in record time.

The Auckland district appears to be enjoying a spell of weather very similar to what has been experienced here, with a light rainfall of only ,79in. up to a few days ago, while lor the greater part there has been bright sunshine.