RAINFALL GENERAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26731, 29 March 1948, Page 4

RAINFALL GENERAL

COUNTRY AREAS BENEFIT CITY WATER SUPPLY Copious rain throughout Saturday night and yesterday morning should reflect a considerable gain in the city’s reservoir water supply as well as benefiting the country inland. The rain appears to have been general and almost an inch was recorded in Dunedin, at Roxburgh and at other inland centres. The rain was particularly welcomed by pastoralists. It will promote the autumn growth of pastures which is essential at present if stock are to be carried into the winter with any confidence. The prolonged dry spell had been particularly unkind to farmers and root crops have suffered seriously. In fact, on many farms in the province the shortage of feed has already become a problem, and the growth of grass in the next few weeks will be eagerly awaited. Milk production has also suffered as a result of the scarcity of green feed in some areas and the week-end rain provided a welcome relief to dairy farmers.

City gardens have also suffered from the recent dry weather but the fall of rain has come too late to do the maximum good. The rain will also be a considerable benefit to the water supply in country districts as well as in the city. Although the effect of the rain in Dunedin will not be gauged until this morning, the reservoirs at 8 a m. yesterday had risen by 1,610,000 gallons above the storage on Friday morning. The rainfal for the 24 hours preceding 8 a.m. yesterday was o.Bin at Ross Creek and at Sullivan's dam. The effect of the run-off will be shown by this morning. The reading yesterday morning was 67.560.000 gallons, which was 1.610,000 gallons in excess of the figure on Friday morning. Consumption over Easter should be reduced in view of industries, which constitute a heavy drain, being closed.