STEADY FALL OF RAIN

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 February 1932, Page 7

STEADY FALL OF RAIN

WAIKATO DOWNPOUR, RACES PUT OFF. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HAMILTON, Feb. 20. The first day’s programme of the Waikato Racing Club’s meeting lips been postponed until Monday on account of rain which set in last evening and still continues. SOAKING IN CANTERBURY. K AIK OUR A TOOTS POSTPONED. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 20. Heavy easterly rain continues. Tt is doing immense good to farm lands. The Kaikoura trots were postponed and all city sports were put off except the Riccarton races. FIRST SINCE OCTOBER, HOPE FOR WINTER PASTURES. - CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 19.

Christchurch has had its first wet day since October 24. Light rain began to fall this morning, and contiued almost ceaselessly all day, and to-night steady rain is still falling. The total precipitation in Christchurch is about half an inch.

The rain would have been of incalculable benefit two months ago, or oven one month ago. It will still be the greatest possible boon to the country. There have been infrequent light showers giving a few points of rain in parts of Canterbury during this month and some districts, notably those nearer the foothills, have had recent falls of as much as two inches, hut for a wide tract of the Canterbury Plains this rain is the breaking of a lone drought. Tf rains come more frequently tor the next two months there is istill hope that there may lm a fair growth of pasture for winter feed. The position on some dairy farms near the city has been desperate recently, as farmers have been compelled to use a lame part of their hay. saved in the earlv summer and normally held for winter use. Lack of pasture has been so serious that sheep have died of starvation in some districts where the pastures 'had completely given out.