THE WEATHER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 68, 16 February 1935, Page 2

THE WEATHER

GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 16. Yesterday’s disturbance is now passing away eastwards. A moderate anticlone covers New Zealand, with its centre in the south. Forecast: Strong south-easterly winds, decreasing to-night. Weather: Uool, cloudy, and changeable, with passing showers east of the ranges. Improving gradually. Seas rougn. DROUGHT PRACTICALLY OVER. OPINION OF METEOROLOGIST. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. Observations on the weather prospects for New Zealand and a review of the drought conditions prevailing over the last few weeks were made to-day by Dr. E. K.dson (Government Meteorologist) in an interview. Dr. Kidson said that drought conditions were particularly acute in Mid and North Canterbury and were severe also in much of Marlborough, South Canterbury and Otago. In Nelson conditions this year had never been very had, while the West Coast and Southland had good rains last month and were generally in good condition. 11l the North Island it was still generally dry, especially since much of the rain that had fallen had been of a local character. Not nearly so much benefit had been received from it, therefore, as there would have been from steady general rain. Nevertheless, there had been important relief rams in most districts. Hawke’s Bay, Poverty Bay, parts of the Wairarapa, the Waikato, and areas about and north of Auckland especially, were oil a much better footing now than at the beginning of the month, and so far as the North Island was concerned the drought was probably practically over. Even in Canterbury there had been scattered rains. . , , , , Equally dry periods lia.d been experienced in other years, but they had usually begun later in the summer. On this occasion, too, the dry weather had been accompanied by the warmest weather hitherto recorded and the effect on the pastures was more severe. Another important point was that, there had been a great flush of growth in the spring and the result had been that the pastures were browned and burned off not only very completely, but also unusually early in summer. Standing dry grass, of course, made fire risks very great. New Zealand had been fortunate in the absence of strong winds. MANAWATU RIVER GAUGE. Noon. —lft. Sins.