THE DRY SPELL BROKEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15249, 12 March 1913, Page 8

THE DRY SPELL BROKEN.

WELCOME RAIN FALLS. SHORTAGE IN MILK SUPPLY* Heavy rain fell in the city and suburbs at intervals throughout yesterday and last night. This, and the fact that the glass has been falling slowly for the past three or four days, gave indications of a breaking up of the prolonged dry spell that has been experienced. The rainfall recorded at (Albert Park for the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. yesterday was only one-fifth of an inch (.20), but the subsequent fall was considerably heavier. Messages from the country districts make it clear that a continuance of rain will be necessary before it*-effect can be appreciably beneficial to the dairy industry, and to. farmers generally. ' 1 There is generally a falling off in the milk supply during February and March, but the shortage this year has been more than usually pronounced. The calving season and the customary drying off of numbers of cows account for a portion of the /tortage. It has been / very much tuated, however, owing to the recent dry spell lessening the available quantities of feed for the cows that are still milking. For some days past milk retailers in the city have had to somewhat curtail supplies to their customers, and although an acute stage had not been reached, the coming of the rain has been none the lees welcomed. There was no danger of a water-famine in the city of Auckland, even had the dry weather not broken just yet. Mr. James Carlaw, waterworks engineer, informed a Herald representative yesterday that, though comparatively little rain had so far fallen at Waitakere, the dam contained 36ft of water, or about 100,000,000 gallons. The daily consumption, he added, only lowers the water lin or l£in. The Western Springs are yielding about 1,500,000 gallons daily from pumping operations. The full capacity of the Waitakere dam is 49ft, and the water has been down as low as 27ft, so that the present contents ' are more than ample to meet emergencies. The rain appears to be of more than a local character, and farmers in many of the country districts are welcoming the rain which fell on Monday night and yesterday. A report from the Northern Wairoa states that the effect of the drought on ( the dairy industry has been considerable, and the further grass burns have led many milk suppliers to discontinue operations for the season. Rain fell in the Tatarariki district yesterday morning, and there was every indication of a general downfall. In Dargaville Borough the scarcity of a domestic water supply bad became again accentuated, and tanks of water were being vended at the rate of £1 per 200 gallons. Rain set in in Whangarea about seven o'clock last night. For some time past a drought had been threatening, and everywhere the parched and dry appearance of land gave indications that the rain was very badly needed. Settlers —who rely very largely on the dairying industry—were Beginning to feel anxious, for while there was sufficient, feed for cattle, there was every indication that before long the reverse would be the case. Bain had been threatening all day, and when it cams down heavily in the evening, with every prospect of continuing, expressions of gratitude were general The rain which fell on Monday night and yesterday in Paeroa was heartily welcomed, particularly in the farming districts round about, as the ground had become very hard as a result of the long spell of dry weather. Netherton residents were also pleased at the arrival of the . rain as, provided it continued sufficiently long, it would extinguish the fire that has been burning there for some time past.