LIGHT GRAIN YIELDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24793, 17 January 1944, Page 2

LIGHT GRAIN YIELDS

SOUTH ISLAND PROSPECT EFFECT OF LONG DRY SPELL (0.C.) DUNEDIN, Sunday Crops in the South Island this season generallv have not been well treated by the weather and this at a time when plentiful harvests are urgently needed. Right throughout the South Island dry conditions have been prevailing, with some districts more seriously affected than others. The districts most seriously affected are Mid-Canterbury, North Canterbury and the country arouyd about Hawea. Before the holidays it was known that vields of all grain and seed crops would* be lighter, but had rains fallen in the past week or so they would have materially helped the position ill southern' coastal districts. However, rain did fall, but drying winds quickly evaporated the moisture. Even in southern districts where yields of wheat usually are. good growers report this season that they will not be up to average. Reports coming in from growing nrens in the South Island are most doleful and they state that in some localities there will be very light yields of wheat, oats and peas. So far as peas are concerned it is stated that the returns will show a reduction of 50 per cent compared with the previous year's crop. It probably will be necessary to* import wheat from Australia to supplement. stocks in New Zealand. Fortunately last year's wheat harvest was a heavy one and most millers still have fair stocks in hand. The dry conditions are also affecting small seed crops and returns will be reduced.

BROTHERS MEET INCIDENT IN ITALY ONE AN ESCAPED PRISONER (0.C.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday Two brothers in the Second N.Z.E.F. met in unusual circumstances in Italy, according to a letter received by their parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. Foley, of Stratford. Private Terence Foley had wandered for three months, after escaping from a camp where he had been a prisoner for two years, and the first Allied soldier he met was his brother, Sergeant William Foley. "I received one of the greatest surprises of my life when I saw and talked to Terry, and Bob Jackson, another Stratford soldier," wrote Sergeant Foley. "I was walking along a road and heard someone call out to me. Sure enough, there they were. They were fairly well, but they could do with plenty of food. They were in the mountains for three mohths getting through, and there is plenty of snow about. They came through dressed in Italian civilian clothes, and had not shaved or had haircuts for three months. They did not know they were safe until I saw them." RECENT LAUNCH TRAGEDY LIFEBELT FOUND ON BEACH (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sunday A lifebelt belonging to the launch Warrigal, which foundered off Capo Ter&whiti on Tuesday afternoon with the loss of three lives, was washed ashore at Houghton Bay this morning, where it was found by a Wellington College boy. Mr. E. W. R. Haldane was last seen in the water wearing a lifebelt by Mr. T. G. Taylor, the survivor, who was rescued later that night by the Matangi after he had been clinging to the dinghy for some hours. Whether the lifebelt which was found was the one worn by .Mr. Ilaldane has not been established for certain yet. A close watch is being kept 011 the beach in the neighbourhood for any sign of a body. FIRE AT CITY HOTEL FUSE BLOWS IN LIFT Two fire engines and the extension ladder from the central fire station attended a call to the Hotel Auckland, Queen Street, shortly after five o'clock yesterday afternoon, when a fuse in a lift, blew while the car was at the sixth lloor. A large volume of smoke came from the lift well and gave a distorted idea of the size of the fire. The outbreak was extinguished by a couple of firemen using first aid equipment. PEAT SWAMP BURNING (0.C.) HAMILTON. Sunday The north-east horizon of the Waikato was illuminated last night by a widespread glow which eminated from a peat fire in the Piako swamp. No damage to property has been reported. AIRMAN HURT IN CRASH (P.A,) WELLINGTON. Saturday When a fighter type aircraft of the Hoynl New Zealand Air Force, operating from a North Island station, crashed on Friday morning, the pilot, Flight - Lieutenant Francis Terver Lampen, received slight injuries, which necessitated his admission to hospital. His wife i§ Mrs. F. T. Lampen, Mount Maunganiu.