THE WEATHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 38

THE WEATHER.

AUCKLAND, January 29. Conditions in the Waikato arising out t>f the prolonged spell of dry weather erf reported to be none too reassuring. Ifc is stated that the country lying between; Otahuhu and Pukckohe, always evidencing a considerable need of ram. 'does not ap° pear, as -viewed from the railway, to have suffered so se\erely as some portions of the Waikato, w here the parched appearance of the pastures is very apparent, particularly on the light pumice lands. The rhers and creeks are very low, and thot,o districts that are dependent upon wells and tanks for their water are beginning to find their supplies running short. This us notably the case at Frankton, where ai water famine is threatening. Of course one effect of the dry weather is an enormous quantity of dust, which arises in almost stifling clouds along the road 6 and Ihe railway. The excessive dust along- the line is just now a somewhat unpleasant feature of the journey between Auckland and Rotorua. Visitors who have arrived from the other end of the island during the past day or two state that the country in this province is not looking so dry as in the Wairarapa and other oarte of the Wellington district. January 30. The heat in Auckland for the last few weeks has been ver-j trying. Tho maximum shade temperature registered during the 24hours ended at 9 o'clock on the 30th uit. was 81 degrees. February 3. The month just passed has been remarkable for its extreme dry ness. Mr Cheesman, cuiator of the Auckland Museum, i>«uies that a record has been established in. raat it is the driest January which has been experienced in Auckland since meteorological observations were commenced 43 years ago. The total rainfall for 'he n onth was under half an inch. Rain fell on three days— the 26th, 27th, and 31st, the last-mentioned date accounting for nearly the whole of the amount. The average rainfall for January for the 48 years has been 2.68 in, that of the correspondingmonth of last year being nearly 7Jin. The> next driest January on record was as law back as 1872, when 4.47 in was registered. GISBORNE, February 3. Last month was the driest January it* Gisborno for 30 years. The weather is now cool, and light ehowers have fallen. NAPIER, January 31. A slight shower of rain fell this morning, but only sufficient to raise the hopes oi farmers that the drought had been broken. PALMERSTON N., January 30. Light, refreshing rain eet in during th« night, and continued at intervals till 1 o'clock this morning, when it ceased, btifc promise of more remains. The rain will freshen up the feed all over tho district, but cannot, owing to the lateness of the season, exert much influence on the milk yield except in the case of recently-calvedt cows. FEILDING, January 30. After a dry spell of nearly two months, severely felt in the Feilding district, a welcome change in the weather occurred at an early hour this morning. Light rairt fell for some hours in and about Feilding, and hea-\y rain in and around the southwestern district. MASTERTON, January 31. The Maeterton rainfall registered for the month of January is just a little over half an inch. In January of last year the record was nearly sin, and in January, 1905, an. inch and a-half. Far November and December, 1907, and January, 1908, the total rainTall was 3in, against 9iin for the previous corresponding period. It ie hoped the drought has broken, as the weather to-day is much cooler, and general vain tot in at dawn, and continues, to the great relief of tho whole community. CHRIbTCHUROH, January 30. Tho wind has changed to the east. The temperature h;is fallen considerably, and! the sky gives md'cation of rain. It is the most rainless summer on record. January 31. Heavy rain fell at intervals during las* night. This morning the road^ were damn, but they had been so long exposed to a. fierce sun that the rain was soon absorbed. Tho showers, however, will do good topasture and to the feed orops. ASHBURTON, January 30. A light but steady rain commenced to fall here at 3 o'clock this afternoon, and was still falling at 7.30 p.m. As far as) can be ascertained, it « ; s general throughout the county. It will not prejudice harvesting operations, which are now mi an advanced stage, but it will freshen up* the pastures and. generally brighten farmers' prospects, by causing autumn andt winter feed to spring. RAE'S JUNCTION, January 31. The deep dust which has lain for weeks on tho Lawrence-Roxburgh road was suddenly transformed into mire by the heavy downpour of rain and hail which has fallen, to-day. In farming circles there ie greafe joy at the timely arrival of the rain, which removes to a degree the parched appearance of tho fields and paddocks. The weather shows signs of clearing, bufc showers might be expected. A SUBURBAN DROUGHT. (Fhom Oub Own Coerespondent.) WELLINGTON, January 29. Residents of Northland are suffering considerably owing bo the continued dry, weather and the scarcety of water has become so serious that eteps are to be takeni to oart water to those residents who oarej to pay for it. The matter was dealt with at a" meeting of the Karori Boroughi Council last evening. It was stated that several residents had approached the City Council with a view to being supplied with water, but the city engineer, while wishing to comply with the requests, suggested thaij the water should be obtained through ths* Karori Council. The idea was thought tq be a good one. ajid on the motion of thqj Mayor (Mr A. C. Pearce) it was decided to ask the City Council for the loan of g. water cart. The water is to be obtained from the South Karcxri stream, ajad supplied to those residents who notify the council. January 30. A shower of rain early this morning pufl hope in the hearts of suburban dwellers who are not connected with the city water supply, but tbe fall was scarcely sufficient

$O put an inch of water in the tanks. Tot Lay the aky continues overcast, and there is a prospect of further rain, but meantime the position of the suburban dwellers Is droughty, and many are reduced to buying water required for household purposes. At South iviioirme the residents have the blessing of an excellent well of pure water, and m the vicinity of the Queen's drive there is a spring weiiing through the Mil, which pio\idcs water suitable for Watering gardens. In the e\enin& thove is Quite a string of bucket-bearers carrying water from it to thc : r thirsty pants. The point at which the water i« drawn is not the first place at which it appears. Between its source m the higher hills and the point on the Queen's dm c it runs in the open, and unfortunate!* it has boon v xl as a drain to receive house sewage, which makes it unfit for himan consumption. A1 Crofton some lesidcnts are dependent wholly upon a carted supply. Karon residents also are in a droughty state, and their case has become so bad that the local council has mounted tanks on drats and is carting wa or from the South Karen stream, which i o sold to rosidon f s of the borough at 5s per load So far as Wellington city is concerned the position is becoming a little more satisfactory. The city engineer states that the care exorcised in recent days by the citizens has had an appreciable effect in husbanding supplies, and as a result the water at Wainui reservoir has remained at the same level for a week or co.