PAST FORTNIGHT'S RAIN HAS BROUGHT AWAY PASTURES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22940, 7 May 1949, Page 3

PAST FORTNIGHT'S RAIN HAS BROUGHT AWAY PASTURES

COUNTRY RAINFALL

In the main. East Coast and Gisborne district rainfalls last month were less than those recorded in April of last year, although the totals for the first four months of 1949 are approximately the same as last year Rain which commenced to fall in the last week of the month and carried through into the first week of May has done a great deal of good to pastures and. given a short spell of reasonably mild weather, farmers expect a fairly quick growth of grass. To date this year falls at Rukuhanga station, Cape Runaway, have been consistent with those experienced in 1948. Last month s.s(iin. of rain fell on 10 days, while in April of last year 5.82 in. was recorded also on 10 days. Over one-auarter of last month's fall, l.GOin., was recorded on April 11. To date this year lG.Blin. of rain has been recorded, this being slightly in excess of the 16.02 in. which fell in the first third of 1948.

Of the 7.81 in of rain which fell at Matarau station, Hicks Bay, last month, 2.83 in. was noted on April 11, this being the heaviest 24-hour fall for the month. There were 15 days last month on which rain fell, compared with 12 wet days and 8.30 in. of rain in April, 1948. To date this year 2G.35in. of rain has been recorded by Mr. C. R. E. Wood, a little over lin. more than in April of last year.

One Frost in Mangaporo Valley

Following 9.01 in. of rain on 15 days last month, the Mangaporo Valley, near Ritatoria, is looking well with plenty of feed, reports Mr. J. J. Brownlie, Pukewhero station. There were a few days on which a cold wind was experienced last month, but only one light frost. The heaviest 24-hours' rain last month yielded 4.38 in. on April 11. During the four months of this year 31.53 in. of rain has fallen, compared with 32in. in the same period last year. The April rainfall last year was particularly high, 18.56 in. being recorded on 16 days. A large proportion of the 5.78 in. of rain experienced at Wairere station, near Ruatoria, last month fell during the 24 hours of April 11, when 3.Min. was recorded by Mr. R. G. Wicksteed. The remainder of the rain fell on nine other days during the month, which compared favourably with the 15 wet days and 8.71 in. of rain in April of last year. The total fall to date this year, 16.5 in„ is only a little less than' the 16.82 in recorded to April 31 last year. Although s.(Min. of rain fell on 11 days at Taoroa station, near Ruatoria, last month, this was less than half the 10.75 in. recorded on 16 days in April, 1948. Nearly half of last month’s total fell on April 11, when Mr D. A. Kirkham recorded 2.30 in. in the 24 hours. During the four months of this year 12.52 in. of rain has fallen, compared with 18.23 in. for the corresponding period last year. Heavy Rain on April 11

The 9.32 in, of rain recorded at Pakihiroa station, at the foot of Mt. Hikurangi, last month was Sin. less than the fall for April last year, but the total of 29.53 in. for 1949 to date is Gin. more than for the corresponding period in 1948. Last month there were 11 wet days, particularly heavy rain falling on April 11, when 5.15 in. was recorded. With 11.33 in. of rain recorded to date this year at Ruangarehu station, Tokomaru Bay, the country is much drier than it was at the end of April last year when 16.4 in. of rain had fallen. Last month 3.Gin. of rain fell on 14 days, compared with 8.31 in. on 1G days last year. The heaviest 24-hour fall last month was I.4in. on April 11.

Most of the 3.53 in. of rain recorded at Turihau station last month fell during the past week although there were 14 wet days during April. In April last year 8.74 in. of rain fell. The heaviest 24-hour fall last month was on April 25, when .76in. was recorded by Mr. H. B. Williams. On the last day of the month ,43in. of rain fell at Turihau, although only a few miles away at Muriwai no rain was recorded. During the first three days of May 2.06 in. of rain fell. The total rainfall for the first four months of this year is 12.64 in„ nearly 2in. less than that recorded in the corresponding period last year. Rain in Last Eight Days

Rain which fell over the last eight days of April began to brighten up the pastures in the vicinity of Waingake and did general good throughout that area. The rainfall for April was low, 2.45 in. being noted on 15 days, compared with an average of 4.17 in. for the month. In April, 1948, 7.34 in. fell on 15 days. The heaviest 24-hour fall last month was ,43in. on April 29. During the first third of this year 9.6 Gin. of rain has fallen at Waingake, considerably less than the 12.91 in. to April 31 last year. Although rain fell on 15 days at Paritu station, Wharerata, last month, only 5.62 in. was recorded, compared with 15.21 in. on 16 days in April, 1948. The heaviest 24-hour fall last month was lin. on April 19. The 21.80 in. to date this year is 3.31 in. less than the recording for the corresponding period in 1948.

There were nine wet clays at Matawai last month, 2.13 in. of rain being recorded.

Only Half of Fall of April, 1948

The 4.02 in. of rain at Parikanapa station last month was only half of the fall measured in April of last year when Mr. R. A. Creswell caught 9.64 in. in his rain-gauge. Last month’s fall was 1.12 in. below the average for April, the 16 wet days were slightly _ above the average number. The heaviest 24-hour fall was on April 29, when ,86in. fell. To date this year the rainfall is 12.73 in., nearly 6in. less than for the corresponding period of 1948. Ngatapa Rainfall

Only l.SGin. of rain fell on nine days at Eastwoodhill station, Ngatapa, last month, compared with G.BGin. on 17 days in April, 1948. Last month’s I.BBin. brought the total for this year to 7.92 in., nearly sin. less than for the first third of last year. The heaviest 24-hour fall last month was ,sin. on April 23. Less rain fell at Maungaorangi station, Pouawa, ' last month —4.10 in in comparison with a total of 10.23 in. noted at the station in the corresponding month last year. The heaviest fall in April this year was .98in. on the 30th. Rain fell on nine clays last month and on 13 days on the same month last year. To date this year 15.08 in. has been taken into account, compared with 21.53 in. for the same period last year.