THE WEATHER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11557, 19 April 1898, Page 6

THE WEATHER.

Our Cheviot correspondent writes :-S-A warm, heavy rain started to fall shortly after midnight oh Saturday, and, up to the time of writing, still continues, and will do an immense lot of good to turnip crops and pastures. ' A drizzling rain began to_ fall in the; Leeston district on Sunday morning, but far from sufficient to meet the requirements of farmers. Should the rain hold off till the frosts, there will be a great scarcity of feed in the district, and the stock will have to be fed by hand. A nice rain commenced to fall in Ashburton about midnight on Saturday, and continued till midday on Sunday. The direction was from the north-east. Our Oxford correspondent writes: — Welcome rain fell heavily on Saturday night and continued without intermission until yesterday morning, when it cleared somewhat, hut towards noon set in again and continued to come down steadily. At the time of writing (8 p.m.) there is very little prospect of it clearing off. It will be a great boon to the farmers, as ploughing was at a complete standstill on account of the hardness of the ground. A warm, continuous rain, lasting about twenty-six hours, fell at Hanmer Plains from about ten o’clock on Saturday night to midnight on Sunday. The appearance of most of the country north of Waikari is a pleasing contrast to that in the south. During the north-west weather frequent showers were,experienced, and on Sunday there was a downpour which lasted all day. In the Amuri the turnip crops are looking well, and there is a plentiful supply of feed for the time of the year, the. cocksfoot particularly having made good growth. A light rain fell in Timaru on Saturday night, and heavier inland, brought up by a southerly breeze. It is reported that the Maoris in South Canterbury anticipate a heavy flood soon, and that they are shifting from their wharcs where these are on low sites. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 18. Another spell of wet weather set in early yesterday, and already two inches of rain have been recorded. The wind has now changed to the south, and there is further prospect of rain. Since the storm of a fortnight ago, the best spell of wet weather for more tlian a year has been experienced.