DRY SPELL BROKEN BY BENEFICIAL RAIN

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6542, 25 February 1928, Page 8

DRY SPELL BROKEN BY BENEFICIAL RAIN

With Further Fall In North Island PREDICTED BY METEOROLO. ' GIST : - Greatly lo the relief of agriculturists, gardnera, and the community In general, rain in considerable quantity fell early yesterday morning In practically all parts of the Dominion, thus putting an end to a prolonged dry spell, which was becoming serious in many quarters. Wellington was one the most favoured spots in the Dominion, a little over an inch and a half of rain being recorded at Kelburn. The downpour commenced at 10.45 p.m, and, continued all night The Government Meteorologist forecasts a further fall over the North Island, which, if it eventuates, should, with what hag already fallen. effectively relieve anxiety in the pastoral districts and refill the depleted water tanks in the country. Press Association telegrams from various parts of the North Island joyfully record tho breaking, of tho dry weather. Woodvillc reports: ; "The longest dry spell for many years broke this morning, rain falling for some hours with incalculable benefit.” "The driest spell in the history of the district was broken, this morning by good rain,” runs a message from Eketahuna. Hawke’s Bay had an abundance of rain in the winter and spring, but was beginning to feel tho effects of two very dry months. “After a full two months without rain a steady fall all over the district commenced' this morning. Although tho conditions in Hawkes Bay have not approached a droughty the rain is welcome.” says a message from Napier. Central Hawkes Bay has suffered.- less from the dry spell than most districts, but the morning’s heavy rain has been very welcome. 1 Taumarunui reports heavy rain, effectively putting an end to all danger of bush fires. Previous Dry Spells, The dry spell just finished has been cxperincccd all over the Dominion, and Is comparable only with the exceptionally dry summer of 1907-08, Thirty Points in Palmerston North. The pleasant if somewhat unfamiliar noise of rain on tho roof was heard for the first time for a fortnight yesterday morning when welcome rain commenced to fall about two a.m. .."Heavy,, but by no means continuous rain fell during the i rest, of the night, and until, about 9.80 a.m. Unfortunately the fall was far from sufficient for the needs of the district, for in-all a total of only 30 points was recorded. It will require a much heavier fall than this to relieve the i parched condition of tho country, i Never-thc-less the fall has 'proved very beneficial even as a temporary respite and should have the effect .of freshening up lawns, gardens;' etc. There have been only two other falls this year, .58 on the 11th and .04 on i the 12th. •’ . 1 - Reports from Mangahao’ indicate that the levels of the dams have been very little affected by the. fall which was very small on the water-shed. The , rain evidently had very little effect | on the dams at Tirltea for the water level was still 7J inches below the overflow yesterday morning. The rain brought with it, however, a welcome fall In temperature, for Mr. T. R. Moore of ‘'Waimarana,' reports a fall of 21 degrees—from 81 In the shade on Thursday to 61 degrees yesterday.