THE NEED FOR RAIN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17009, 16 April 1926, Page 12

THE NEED FOR RAIN.

FARMERS IN A BAD WAY. NEXT SEASON’S PRICES. Whilst the continued spell of dry weather is having an almost disastrous effect on farmers resident in certain parts of the district, others in other parts are not yet feeling the pinch (reports the Napier Telegraph). This is probably due to the lact that much of the rain which has fallen has been purely local, and while the country immediately surrounding Hastings has missed'it, country further away has been comparatively well soaked.

Taken all round, however, the position, as far as Hastings and the immediate vicinity are concerned, is very serious, worse than it has been for many years. On many farms, stock have already died for want of food, and on farms within a miLe or two from Hastings a glance thin sheep is sufficient to show ho\v serious the drought is making things. Many farmers have felled trees with the ‘dea of temporarily appeasing the hunger of the stenk, and in the hope that rain will soon fali, but there are not sufficient green trees to meet the demand, and at best this can only be a temporary measure.

Rain is urgently needed, and it is needed before The frost arrives. That the weather .at present is ■ anything but seasonable is proved by the fact that in Hastings there lias not yet been a decent frost, and at this time of the year they are usually very much in evidence. As a result of the dry spell people are predicting higher prices in general next season, and if the dry weather continues much longer, this state of affairs is bound to follow, as there will surely he a narked scarcity of stock. Fanners who are weil placed for feed are now having a good time, for stock can be bought at almost give-away prices, and they will reap a harvest next seasoli, unless, of course, there is a repetition of this year’s drought.