DROUGHT IN ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3512, 5 July 1921, Page 18

DROUGHT IN ENGLAND.

CROPS SUFFER SEVERELY. LONDON, June 25. The prolonged drought threatens the farming industry with catastrophe. According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture farm and garden crops are everywhere suffering intensely, and some will certainly fail. Hie root crops are already past redemption. The hay crops

will bo light, but cereals may be partly saved if there are abundant rainfalls without delay. It is feared that most of the corn is already seriously damaged, and that straw must be short, while winter feeding is likely to be scarce. The worst sufferers arc the fruitgrowers. The autumn fruit is dropping from the trees in immense quantities, and the berries are small and not likely now to improve. London’s water is running short. The capital is declared to be within measurable distance of a water famine. The chief engineer of the Water Board says the situation is most serious, and is likely to become alarming. He is already utilising reserves. The pressure in the nafns was reduced in May, and the supply was cut down at night time. Forecasts point to drier weather still.

The birth of a seventh son of a seventh son is regarded as an event of some importance. but when it is the third time such a thing has happened in successive generations of a family, the occurrence is invested with much additional interest. This is the unique history that attaches to the recent birth of a seventh son to Mr and Mrs S. de S. Hawkins, of \\ hananalvi. Mr -Sieptimus tie Septimo Hawkins was the seventh son ot Mr W. L. Hawkins, who was one of the first managers of the Bank of Australasia in Christchurch. Mr W. L. Hawkins was the seventh son of Captain T. F. Hawkins, R.N.. one of the pioneers of Now South W ales. The closing down of the freezing works at Ocean Beach, Mataura, and Makarewa at the end of the month will probably increase unemployment in Southland, as the works will pay off a large number of men.

ADVANCES TO SOLDIERS. WELLINGTON. -June 30. Amending regulations gazetted yesterday tinder “ The Discharged Soldiers’ Settle xnent Act, 1915,” provide that advances made for buildings on rural holdings not exceeding in area 21 acres shall be repay-

aible by half-yearly or monthly instalments over a period of 25 years. Every instalment shall consist partly of interest and partly of principal, and shall be calculated , at the rate of 7 per centum per annum on the amount of the advance. The decision

aa to whether the moneys advanced eh all bo secured by way of flat mortgage or by instalment mortgage, and in tho latter case whether such moneys shall be repayable by half-yearly or monthly instalments, is to be at the discretion of the Minister.