SERIOUS DROUGHT

Grey River Argus, 31 March 1939, Page 9

SERIOUS DROUGHT

In Marlborough CROP AND FIRE LOSSES.

BLENHEIM, March 29.

Marlborough has had a drought lasting for nearly three months. Today’s earily prospect of rain proved false, and the much wanted rain still has not made an appearance. For the farming community the situation Is serious, affecting both the sheep and dairy industries, and the results of the prolonged dry spell have been apparent in recent stock sales where sheep frequently have been disposed of at ridiculous prices, and where bidding has been noticeably restrained. The whole country presents a parched appearance, which is not to be wondered at when it is realised that only 38 points of rain have fallen this year, of which 25 fell early this month, when there was about two days of light rain. Creeks that previously have been relied on to supply stock with water through the driest months have ceased to flow, and many farmers in recent weeks have been compelled to transport water over long distances for farm and household use. In dairying, the production of all companies in the district has fallen considerably, arid unless there is rain very soon it will fall still further. Agriculturists are also facing serious problems, for it is now time they began to cultivate land for the sowing of autumn crops, but nearly everywhere tke ground is too hard to enable cultivation to be attempted.

i In ground where sowing has been possible there is a danger that winter will arrive before the crops have made much headway, in which event there is a likelihood of frost lifting the plants out of the ground. 1 Grass fires'have' been frequent in all parts of the district, the most serious being those at Ugbrooke and Opouri, and in several places in the Sounds, while at Opouri an extensive area of bush caught alight, causing damage land threatening a number of hofnesteads. Some, of the fires, of • course, have been by design, but by far the greater number has been through misadventure, and the damage to pastures and fences has been, considerable. In Blenheim the situation is not as serious as in - other towns, as the water supply hSs- held out well and there are no signs of it diminishing much. Restricted hosing is allowed in the early morning and late evening.