A FARMERS’ CHRISTMAS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18589, 27 December 1934, Page 4

A FARMERS’ CHRISTMAS

RAIN SPOILS HOLIDAY

ALL SPORTS POSTPONED

SHOWERY WEATHER ON

COAST

This has been truly a farmers’ Christmas. The rain caused the postponement of all organised sports events in Gisborne, but has benefited the pastures, after a long dry spell. On the Coast, however, conditions were fine yesterday, and Te Puia, Waipiro Bay and Tokornaru, Bay had an ideal day. A

The rain over the holidays totalled 70 points. It commenced while the crowd's were in town on Christmas Eve in the form of light showers, bpt as the evening was well advanced it had no effect on the shopping ppowds, which were among the largest of recent years. By 9 a.m. on Christmas Day, 13 points of rain had fallen. More showers fell throughout the morning, leaving the afternoon fine, with further rain at. night. The heaviest rain was experienced yesterday morning, and 'just before midday the downpour settled any gafdipg the postponement of sporong events. After, lunch, howeverypthe rain clearqd, although the sky remained overcast. For the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday the rainfall at Gisborne was 2fi points, with a further 31 points for the 24 hours to 9 a.m. to-day, or a total of 70 points for the three days.

The holiday, rainfall, together with the deluge on Saturday afternoon, should help materially in giving the pastures a fresh growth in those places where the rain fell, although it was not heavy enough to provide any lasting benefit, unless supplemented by further falls.

The Kaitaratahi sports were postponed for the first time in 14 years. Crowds gathered on the grounds, and the excursion train took its quota of patrons, and it was not until nearly noon, when the weather was at its worst, that it was decided to postpone the sports indefinitely. This was a big disappointment to the committee, which had gone to a great deal of trouble and expense to ensure the success of the meeting.

The Poverty Bay and East Coast Lawn Tennis Association also was unfortunate. There was no alternative to a postponement yesterday of the first day’s play in the tourney, the heavy rain during the morning making play out of the question. Tho shower this morning shortly after 8 o’clock made an early start impossible, but it was hoped to proceed later in the day.

MANY CAMPERS

Many campers were ,out during the holidays, and very large numbers went; to the Coast, where the welter was an improvement on that ei®erienc.ed in Gisborne. Christ mas*Dn.y was showery in. the morning on the Coast, but yesterday’s, rain did not fall until "the evening. Yesterday was fine in the Wairoa district, and sports programmes were carried through at Ruakituri and Waikareinoana without interruption. Whilst Gisborne experienced unfavorable weather for the Christmas holidays the Wairoa and Waikaremoana districts were much more fortunate. Indeed, beautiful sunny weather prevailed at the lake yesterday, much to the enjoyment of the crowds of holi-day-makers, whilst the farmers in parts of "the Wairoa district would have rejoiced to have shared in the recent rainfall.

The rain, both on Christmas Day and yesterday, was confined to restricted areas.

Early travellers on the GisborneWairoa road on Christmas morning experienced much rain at Manutuke, fogs on the Wharerata hills, and heavy rain after leaving Morere. Tiniroto residents who spent Christmas Eve in Gisborne experienced heavy rain on Harris' Hill on their way home that night, and had a trying journey over the three-mile section now under construction. Several lorries returning to town without chains were held up account of the greasy conditions, tlnd even yesterday this portion was still very muddy. Rain fell in the Euakituri Valley yesterday and somewhat spoilt the annual sports gathering, but a few miles beyond, at Opouiti and Afaruniaru, brown and dried up pastures testified to the urgent need for rain. Some heavy showers fell on the hill country between Wharerata and Morere yesterday, but south iof Nuhaka only a slight sprinkling experienced in the morning. Showers , 'ell in Wairoa on Christmas Day, but were quite of a local nature.

WAIKAREMOANA FAVORED

From a holiday viewpoint tfie Waikaremoana district was most favored j i’he road to the lake was in splendid order and clouds of dust were raised in places by the large volume of motor traffic. A'isitors were mainly attracted by the annual motor boat regatta held in the picturesque bay below the Government accommodation house, but there was a good sprinkling if through tourists. The Waikare-noana-Rotorua road was reported to be dry but a bit rough in places. Walks romoana was seen yesterday under •harming conditions. Morere, with its splendid bush reserve and hot springs, attracted numerous visitors for the holidays. Both the reserve and adjacent gardens are looking at their best, whilst the camping grounds, occupied by many campers, presented a picturesquj appearance.