SERIOUS POSITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 12

SERIOUS POSITION

OUTLOOK IN NORTH HAY SCARCITY ANTICIPATED STOCK MARKET LIFELESS [niOM CUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] WHANGAREI, Wednesday Ten weeks have now passed since the last heavy rain in North Auckland. Dairy farmers are now facing a serious position, with production falling rapidly and a shortage of feed. Dairy production shows a decline of an' average of 20 per cent when production for March of last season is compared with last month. There do not seem to bo very bright prospects of a growth of feed for the autumn, oven when rain does fall, and eo the outlook for the winter is anything but promising. In the early spring there was a shortage of hay in North Auckland and the price went to a, rather high figure for this area. It is possible that this winter will see an even greater shortage with a sharp advance in price. In preparation for tlais anticipated shortage some farmers are already purchasing hay. Store Sheep not Wanted

On account of the feed position the stock market in North Auckland is lifeless, except for cattle that can go straight to the. freezing works. At the sales thai; have been held there have been large yardings of boners and these have been quitted.

Store stock have been almost impossible ito quit, although there has been a slight demand for dairy heifers to come to profit next spring. Jt is known that some farmers are holding more stock than they can winter, so it is possible, if there is no autumn growth, that there will be a glut of stores in North Auckland. • Householders Carry Water

In the pig section there are not go many fat pigs cortiing on. the market on account of the reduced milk production find this has also affected tho demand for stores, these being not wanted. On some farms the watering of stock iis presenting a problem and a daily drive to water has had to be undertaken during the last few weeks. This shortage of water with the daily driving of the dairy herd has contributed to the decline in production. With the advent of tho cooler weather there has been a heavy dew on the grasses on a number of mornings and this has been most beneficial. The carrying of water for household use is a daily task not only on a number of farms but also for households in the smaller centres in North Auckland where a town supply is not available.

SHOALING OF BAR TROUBLE AT GREYMOUTII EFFECT OF LONG DRY SPELL SLUGGISH CURRENT IN RIVER [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] GKEYMOUTH, Wednesday The prolonged dry spell on the West Coast has resulted in tho Greymouth bar reaching tho lowest depth for many months,' there being only 17ft. 3in. of water available at high water yesterday, including a tidal rise of Bft. Low neap tides are being experienced a 1; present and it is considered that, with the spring tides next week, there vrill bo an improvement of approximately 3ft., which should obviate the necessity of restricting tho draughts: of vessels working the port. The shoaling consists of a small ridge between the breakwater and the heads, with good depths of water on both sides, and in the absence of a fresh in the river or heavy northerly seas the ebb tide flow with tho coming spring tides should improve the position. There has been a long period without northerly seas and the groynes on the Blaketown beach are almost buried by huge piles of material carried along the beach by the littoral drift. Tho river, as a result of the absence of rainfall, has reached an abnormally low level, the maximum current velocity being less than one and a-half knots, whereas in normal conditions the velocity is between two and two and a-half knots. For the greater part of the tidal period the velocity is slightly over one knot, which is unusually blow.

BAROMETER VERY HIGH RECORDING OF 30.511N, STEADY RISE DURING WEEK One of th 9 highest readings of barometric pressure recorded in Auckland in recent years was reached last night, when a level of 30.51 in., or 1033 millibars, was shown on tho Herald barograph. The reading was the peak of unusually high pressures extending over more than a month, and was reached after a, steady rising tendency since the week-end. The highest reading last year was one of 30.60 in. in May, while two readings of 30.50 in. were recorded. The highest reading in 1937 was 30.46 in., in 1936 30.50 in., and in 1935 30.51 in. A very high reading, 30.78 in., was recorded in 1924. The long spell of dry weather continued yesterday in Auckland, but there was a noticeable fall in temperatures.

WHANOAREI EXPERIENCE THE HIGHEST THIS YEAR |>Y TKL3ORAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] WHANGAHEI, Wednesday The barometer reading in Whangarei this ©veiling.is 30.Sin. This is the highest reading recorded this year. During; the spring and early summer tlio barometer fluctuated sharply, but after the rain at Christmas the glass steadied at a reading of over 30in., and on only two occasions has the reading dropped below 30in. this year. The uisual level has been from 30.1 in. to 30.3 in., but to-day there has been a steady rise.