RAIN AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 69, 20 February 1932, Page 6

RAIN AT CHRISTCHURCH.

DROUGHT BROKEN. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 19. Christchurch has had its first wet dav since October 24. . - Light rain bdgatt to fall this morning, andi continued almost ceaselessly all day, and to-night steady rain was still falling. The total precipitation in Christchurch is about half an inch. The rain would have been of incalculable benefit two months ago, or even 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 lrad recent falls of as much as two inches, but for a wide tract of Canterbury Plain this rain is the breaking of the long drought. If rains come more frequently for the next two months there is still hope that there may be 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 large part of their nay saved in early summer, and normally held for winter use. The lack of pasture has been so serious that sheep have died of starvation in some dis : tricts where pastures had completely given out.