WELCOME LIGHT RAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21708, 25 January 1934, Page 12

WELCOME LIGHT RAIN

CITY GARDENS REFRESHED TWO MONTHS' DRY WEATHER Gardens in Auckland were refreshed by continuous light rain which fell during yesterday afternoon and early in the evening.

The morning was cloudy and threatening and a boisterous wind was blowing from the west all day. The rainfall was not heavy and was only sufficient to moisten the surface of the soil, which is parched owing to. the spell of drv weather.

Rain has only fallen on nine days lis month and the total rainfall for

January up to nine o'clock yesterday morning was only 1.11 in., the average rainfall for January being 2.72 in. Although the weather has been very unsettled and cold during the past two months there has not been much rain. Last month the rainfall was below the average for December. The total .rainfall for the month was 2.10 in., which fell on eight days, the maximum fall of 0.98 in. occurring on December 20.

COUNTRY AREAS BENEFIT PASTURES GENERALLY DRY Rain commenced to fall iu Hamilton at 2 p.m. yesterday and continued in a steady downpour throughout the afternoon. Although the rainfall this summer has been nearly up to the average, the persistent winds that have prevailed have done much to counteract its beneficial effects, and the downpour to-day will be greatly welcomed by farmers throughout the district. Some districts, with sheltering hills to the windward, have had an excellent growth of grass throughout the season, and the pastures are still fresh and green, while the milk supply has been well maintained. In others, where the wind has had full play, the moisture from the occasional rains that have fallen has evaporated quickly, and parched conditions have developed during the last fortnight. In the Taumarunui district haymaking has been greatly delayed owing to the lateness of the season and the dearth of rain needed to promote the growth of the pastures. After a lengthy spell of warm, dry weather rain commenced to fall in Paeroa about four o'oclock yesterday. A steady downpour lasted for several hours and will do an immense amount of good. All the farming lands in the district are very dry and brown, and the milk supply has dropped very considerably.