URGENT NEED FOR RAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19282, 22 March 1926, Page 10

URGENT NEED FOR RAIN.

POSITION IN HAWKE'S BAY.

PARCHED FARMING LAND.

LITTLE FEED FOR STOCK. SOME SETTLERS NOT AFFECTED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COH.R.ESPONDENT. ] NAPIER. Saturday. A few weeks ago there appeared every indication that the severe spell of dry weather from which central and northern Hawke's Bay had been suffering was being broken up by the fairly copious rainfall which intervened. The district undoubtedly experienced a partial recovery, but exceptionally dry weather has since prevailed, relieved perhaps by an occasional shower. The position in some localities at the present time is very serious.

A peculiarity of the situation is that the dry areas are what might be termed patchy. For instance the Pohue district, northward of Napier, is in a very bad way, while the country in between, towards Hastings, is in fairly satisfactory fettle. Then round Hastings and towards the coast everything is parched and dried up, and the "stock-feeding problem is one that is seriously exercising the farmers.

The same conditions prevail in other parts of the district towards Central Hawke's Bay, some farmers being at their wits' end, while others are able to graze and hold their stock, and express themselves as satisfied with their winter prospects.

The situation is one that is going to have its effect upon the stock market a little later on, and those who are able to hold on will undoubtedly find themselves in a good position in the matter of prices.

Certainly the outlook for the winter for a very large proportion of the farmers will be very serious, unless there is a break within the next week or two before the frosts set in. "With very much of the country baked almost as hard as concrete ploughing for early sowing is an utter impossibility..

At present the weather is remarkably fine and warm, with no appearance of a break, and if it were not for the results to the settlers the conditions might be described as delightful Fruitgrowers are about the only people who can view the position with complacency as they are certainly experiencing a really good season. ■ DRY LANDS IN THE NORTH. ABSENCE OF MOISTURE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COIUIESPONDENT.] WHAIhGAEEI, Saturday. The lands in the North are very dry. In the Whangarei district the conditions have been such that for two months there has not been more than an inch of rain recorded for the whole period. The last heavy fall was on January 22, when the gauge measured 1.57 inches. The effects of the lengthy spell of dry weather are to be seen in the appearance of 'the countryside. Everywhere the parched grass indicates the need for water. *