RAINFALL AT TOKAORA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 July 1924, Page 15

RAINFALL AT TOKAORA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Owing to an extended stay at my town residence I have not been in a position to give the Star the monthly rainfall. From a mound close to my home here I obtain a splendid view of the surrounding country. To the west, looking over the fertile Waimate Plains, the scene is a delightful one, especially to one who has been born and brought up on the land. The green fields, enclosed by dense boxthorn hedges, look like a great checker board. To the north and east the same remarks will apply in a lesser degree. The primeval forest being eliminated, the only trees showing up are imported ones planted by the early settlers. To use the words of a wedding notice, the whole scene was charming, especially as we are past our shortest day. A few umbrageous trees dotted over the landscape, and there was a truly Homeland scene in the month of May. All this must be attributed to our rich lands, genial climate, copious and evenly distributed rainfall. ~ I most reluctantly must tear myself away from this enchanting panorama;

and see my old friend and neighbour, Mr Heath cote Livingston, who has foL owed in the footsteps of his late father by keeping the local record of the vagaries of the rain . god. When we greet each other we become quite enthusiastic-, and rejoice we are not like other people in parts of New Zealand, co pipe I led to forsake our home and farm when a little extra, rain comes along. Under our feet lies a beautiful green sward, studded with trefoil, clovers, cocksfoot and English ryegrass, the original seed being imported from the dear old Homeland and sown here jy the late Mr Livingston 65 years ago. Close by is the meek and. sleek-skinned .Jersey enjoying that delicious verdure, the fountain of all our wealth, whic-h in clue time will be manufactured from milk and butter-fat'to cheese and buttei, to be shipped overseas in exchange t° l _ cash to help to. keep the- country going.

. The rainfall for June, 1924. was 3.99 inches on 18 days, 96 points falling on C J ’ J une » 1923, 4.88 inches fell on 22 days; June, 1922, 2.44 inches ' a ' s pi'ecipfated on nine days; June, IJ2X, 4.58 inches fell on 14 days: and same month of 1920 no less than 6.87 inches moistened our soil on 12 days. Une peculiarity of our rainfall was noticed on March 10, 4.78 inches being i egistered locally. Ha we r a for the same day had 5.01 inches. Between, the t« o raiiji gauges the distance in a straight line is about four miles. There uas a downpour in the same time of nearly 10 inches. In January of this year 3.36 inches was recorded here, but in January of last year (1923) 10.77 inches fell on 15 days. For the first) L° f - 1^ 24 ’ ndin -? July lat 9 a.rn., -o.iß inches fell on 93 days- 1923 same time and place, 31.87 inches was recorded on 97 days; 1922, 18.59 inches tell on <8 days, a big dron from the previous year; 1921. 17.36 'inches only graced our soil on 79 days ;, while 1920 gave ns 30.77 inches on' 74 days, and that was a record year around here for milk and butter-fat. Now let us compare one or two places tor rainfall records in other parts of New Zealand. Auckland (Albert Park)" recorded for June to 23rd at 9 a.m. o.bd inches, while the average record t°r June extending over 60 years is 4i 9 inches. Up to June 23 tfie totals tor Auckland are 39.55 inches. Up to June iln/tf 9 p nC T eS kut for the Whole ™ +t h x°f J V- ne ’ 1923 ’ T. 63 inches fell m that locality. I hope visiting farmers and others tiom outside when attending our Dominion Winter Show during this week *£? visit tllis P»Vfc of laranaki which I have endeavoured to describe lam sure they will he well lepanl for the trouble and slight exo 1 ' Vid make their mouths Sec + Mr o. Hooker. ‘? d Y ertlser as he is, has omitted one of the most important items from his show' programme by leaving out a trip over our excellent roacls and fer K le farms * Then visitors would and could see where our uncounted wealth comes from. Not tooWhen 1 visit tiw? • T l aiKl , 1 always boost up our tx "°“ s C w a S and fe I rti,e lands around Haweia, but the southerners won’t believe the faces, and my Scotch friends lear” ’fc ™ e <<the Taranaki iear. Hut get as many visitors as pospay a y^lr sin ; rollndin g districts a Tb „ t ¥ y :• J, rom seeing, must w « i ,Jollity of our district is not a lea, but a sterling fact.