Late Rainfall Hits Kohukohu Farmers

Northern Advocate, 11 May 1939, Page 2

Late Rainfall Hits Kohukohu Farmers

Though Kohukohu's rainfall for Aprils exceeded the average for April during the last eight years by 1.2 inches, it was a dry month. The total rain was 5.68 inches and the large percentage of this fell on four days, the remainder being made up in light falls of a.'few points. The total for the first four months of 1939 was 11.35 inches which was a little below average.

The rain came too late to atone for the dry spell and has made the prospects for the winter, from the farmer’s point of view, far from attractive. Owing to the poor prices of the stock market, many farmers held their cattle and sheep for the expected rise in prices, which, not being forthcoming, has left large numbers of stock on their hands and they are now faced with the difficulty of finding winter feed.

Few areas are showing any growth of ■feed at all and cattle are being sold at almost record low prices. To make matters even worse still, the freezing works are unable to take the stock offering. Kohukohu Tar-sealing. Beach Road has now received the priming coat of bitumen and 1 the dust nuisance has at last disappeared. The sealing gapg completed the priming of •the Motukaraka road in the vicinity of the dairy factory on Monday and a start has been made this week with the priming of the Kohukohu school ground. When this has been completed, Kohukohu’s footpaths are to receive attention. It is understood that the final coat of bitumen will be laid In September or October with a possibility that it may be done at an earlier date.