WEATHER CONDITIONS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4652, 2 February 1935, Page 5

WEATHER CONDITIONS

’• RAIN URGENTLY NEEDED. DAIRYING BADLY AFFECTED. While the condition of the pastures is not as bad as in the Waikato, farmers in this district are becoming alarmed at the continued absence of rain. It is over 27 years since such a long spell of dry weather was experienced in this district, for as a rule the rainfall is fairly consistent. Sheep are not so badly affected, but the dairying industry is beginning to feel the effect of the continued dry spell. It is estimated that the returns from the dairy factories in this district will be down by something like 20 per cent. This is not altogether due to weather conditions, however, as during the last twelve months many farmers have gone over to sheep, and this would account for at least 8 per cent, of the lower butter-fat returns.

Yesterday was one of the hottest days experienced in Te Kuiti this year, the thermometer registering 86 degrees in the shade, and at 8 o’clock last night there was only a drop of 2 degrees. The registration was 80 degrees in the shade on Thursday and 81 on Wednesday. Drought conditions in the King Country, however, are hot so bad as in other parts of the North Island. In the Hawke’s Bay district the pastures are thoroughly brown, and another threfe weeks without rain will see them blackened. In the Taranaki district the outlook is not so bad, as there is no acute shortage of feed. Round about Wanganui, the pastures have a parched appeara'nce, and also in the Wairarapa district. Arcund Gisborne there has been more rain than in most parts and the grass has a healthy appearance. The drought conditions in the Waikato have been accentuated by the peat fires which, with the morning fogs, have darkened the whole district. Visibility for motorists has been bad, and a large number of collisions have taken place during the last few. days. For several mornings householders have been forced to use electric light up to 8 o’clock owing to fog and smoke.