WELCOME RAINFALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21037, 23 November 1931, Page 10

WELCOME RAINFALL.

BENEFIT TO PROVINCE. PASTURES AND GARDENS. . * TOTAL OF HALF AN INCH. ■ FARMERS' FEARS RELIEVED. Steady and warm rain which was heavy enough to be of immeasurable benefit to gardens and pastures, fell throughout the province on Saturday afternoon and evening. It was the first useful rain to have fallen in Auckland for about three weeks, and amounted to 0.59 in. Only 0.53 in. of rain had fallen previously during the month. Gardens had a freshened appearance yesterday, and farmers have for the time being been relieved of their fears that pastures were to suffer from a very prolonged dry spell. Tn most, parts of the province there lias been no scarcity of feed, but. the dry weather was beginning to tell.- Tanks in many of the country districts were beginning to be greatly depleted, and for this reason, too, the rain was particularly welcome. In North Auckland light rains were experienced earlier in the month, but there had been little rain south of Auckland except Tor a fairly heavy shower, which was fairly general, the previous Saturday. Except for a few light showers which were experienced on five days, ideal summer conditions had prevailed in Auckland j,i»ce the beginning of November, the wind being generally light from the. northeast. On Friday the conditions became overcast and threatening, and after midday on , Saturday the wind changed to the south-west and continuous rain fell during the afternoon and evening. Yesterday morning the conditions improved and fine weather prevailed during the day, the wind continuing from the south west. During the dry weather the barometer had been high and steady, but between Friday night and Saturday afternoon it fell to' 29.65 in., the lowest reading recorded since October 25. Yesterday morning the barometer commenced to rise again, and the reading last evening was 29.90 in. Sports fixtures were greatly interfered with on Saturday, and there were many postponements. Cricket, tennis and bowling fixtures were postponed and the opening'of the yachting season and rowing events were both interfered with. The annual sports meeting of the Inter-house Girls' £>ports Association was also postponed.

DOWNPOUR IN FRANKLIN, PROSPECT FOR ENSILAGE CROPS. [from our own correspondent:] PUKEKOHE, Saturday. Commencing with showers early this morning there was a good downpour of warm, Soaking rain, lasting several hours, to-day. It will greatly benefit crops and pastures, a dry spell of several weeks, broken only bv thunderstorms in places last Saturday, 'having had a tendency to ripen off growth. Ensilage crops already cut are light, but as a result of to-day's rain later crops should be heavier. CONDITIONS IN THE NORTH. FALL OF SEVEN HOURS. [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANG ARE I , Sunday. Warm rain set in yesterday afternoon shortly- before two o'clock and continued without, cessation until shortly before nine o'clock last evening. Although necessitating the cancellation of all outside sporting fixtures, the rain has done much good to ,the farming community. The somewhat light rains which fell earlier in the month were of benefit to pastures, but the heavy downpour of yesterday will ensure a vigorous growth of grass and of all crops, including those in market gardens. It is considered to be the most beneficial rain since August and has- removed much anxiety. The rainfall for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. to-day was ,65in. at Whangarei and .68in. at Ruatangata, practically all of Which fell over a period of seven hours.

STIMULATION OF GROWTH. IMPROVEMENT AT OPOTIKI. TELEG RAM. —OWN* COB RESIT) N DENT. ] OPOTIKf, Saturday. After threatening for several days, rain, which has been urgently wanted, commenced to fall to-dav. Although the district still appears very green, signs were evident , that production would drop if rain was delayed much longer. Newlysown seed will now come away rapidly. FRESH GROWTH STARTED. PASTURES IN TARANAKI. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday. Heavy rain started to fall early yesterday. morning and continued for some hours, ending the lon>; dry spell throughout the province. Pastures, which were feeling ,uie nee'd of rain,, have shown fresh growth. The rain also replenished the muchdepleted water supply for the New Plymouth borough hydro-electric system. Two days ago Lake Mangamahoe was down to a level that was 100 low to be satisfactory and assistance, was required from the Power Board system. The recent, rain should ensure against any .shortage of power for some time to come nrid the borough system will be able to carry on unaided.

DRY WEATHER ENDS. APPRECIATION OF THE CHANGE. [by TEI,E(J RAI'H. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] \ PALM KRSTON XOPT 11, Sunday. The long spell of dry weather terminated yesterday morning when heavy soaking rani felt. The rain was welcomed by farmers and the change in the weather was also appreciated by city residents, as lawns were parched and gardens were Buffering. The rain was the first experienced for nearly three weeks, during which time the. weather was very warm. Between midnight and 9 a.m. yesterday, 1.13 in. of rain fell. There was a torrential fall at about 8.30 a.m., and afterward the tain slackened. The weather cleared yesterday afternoon, but there was further rain during the night and this morning. The temperature is becoming rtwich cooler.