RURAL TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14202, 26 October 1906, Page 9

RURAL TOPICS.

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL. i.The Kaikoura correspondent of the “Lyttelton Times” telegraphs:—: A* heavy north-west wind blow on Wednesday night, and yesterday was exceedingly dry .and hot. .No rain has fallen for a month, and rain is wanted badly. _ A considerable area of bush on th© hills is burning. Following the welcome rain which fell on "Wednesday evening, a slight frost was experienced at Ashburton on Thursday, followed by a very cold strong north-east wind, which raged until nine o'clock at night. Then tne - wiffd changed to north-west'agairi^'and-blew' with terrific force during the night.. The effect will be to undo all the.good derived from the recent rain. The Methven correspondent of the “Lyttelton Times” writes as follows: —After several weeks of very dry weather we had about two hours’ rain from the south-west during Tuesday night, but it has had very little effect on the’ hard, sun-baked surface of the ground. On Wednesday the barometer; had fallen very rapidly, and a heavy" north-west wind was blowing, with very ' black clouds on the hilltops, which farmers are hoping will bring rain with them.