DRY PERIOD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22582, 10 March 1948, Page 4

DRY PERIOD

PAST FIVE MONTHS SECOND ONLY TO 19454 S GARDENS SUFFER BADLY RECORDS show that Gisborne is passing through one of the driest summers in the past 70 years. Dried up hill and pasture land toll their tale of the fivemonth drought. In the 70 years in which rainfall figures hsve been kept in Gisborne, during only one period from October to February has there been less rainfall than in the. present summer. During the past five months only 5.36 in. of rain has been recorded at the meteorological station. Durton Field In 1945-5 G the rainfall for the same period was only 4.33 in.. this being the worst drought in Gisborne's history. Droughts lasting three months are fairly common in the district, the last three months of 1931, when only 1.83 in, fell, being the worst of these periods. January, 1932, with only 1.36 in. of rain, did not assist conditions very much, but in February of that year 12.61 in. fell to bring much needed relief. The drought of 1945-46 began in October and in November only .10in. of rain fell to make this the driest November on record here. In January, 1946. only. ,16in. was recorded—a record dry January. February with only .llin. of min was also a record dry month foe •.lie district.

Low Monthly Average - During the past five months the Gisborne rainfall has been a little higher, but in November. December and February it still did not-reach lin. for each month. Detailed recordings covering these periods are:

The March rainfall in 1946 was 2.83 in. During tiie first nine days of this month only .Olin. has fallen in Gisborne. The rainfall for 'he first nine months of 1945 was not particularly high, only 25.25 in. being recorded. For the cor* responding period last year the rainfall was 33.67 in. With this slight reserve o| moisture stored during the winter months the hills'and pastures have not dried out quite so much as two years ago, but rain is urgently needed in all parts of the district. Few Gardens Survive

Although there are still some small crops such a tomatoes to be gathered and red clover to be harvested, processes which rain would hinder .three rain at present would do far more good than harm. It is probably too late for moisture to do any good for maize, which is stunted owing to the lack o£ rain. However, plantings were spread over such a long period that probably some late crops would benefit from a downpour. Auxiliary water supplies have long been in use by farmers and their wives for household purposes and in many cases soft water has given way to hard. Few home gardens in the boroughhave survived the drought, most house, holders having given up the growing of both flowers and vegetables in des* pair. The use of a hose for only one hour a day has proved of little use under these conditions. Any spare water is being devoted to choice plants and shrubs which are only just being kept alive.

1945-46 1947-48 in. in. October . .. 1.93 2.44 November .. . . .. .10 .32 December .. .56 Jnnuarv 16 1.76 February .. . .. .11 .28 Total . .. 4.33 5.36