PRACTICALLY OVER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18632, 16 February 1935, Page 8

PRACTICALLY OVER

DROUGHT IN NORTH ISLAND GOOD RELIEF RAINS WEATHER REVIEWED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night, Observations on the weather prospects for New Zealand and a review of drought conditions prevailing over the last, few weeks were made to-day by Dr. K. Ividson, Government meteorologist. in an interview: “The drought- conditions,” said Dr. Ividson, “are particularly acute in Mid and North Canterbury and are severe also in much of Marlborough, South Canterbury and Otago. In Nelson, the conditions this year have never been very bad, but the West Coast and Southland bad good rains last month and are generally in good condition. “In the North Island, it is still generally dry, especially since much of the rain that has fallen lias bean of local character. Not. nearly so much benefit, lias been received from it.; therefore, as would have been' from steady general rain. Nevertheless, there have been, important. relief rains in most, * districts. Hawke’s Bay, Poverty Ray, parts' of Hie. Wairarapa, Waikato, and areas about, and north of A ncidand '.especially, are on a much better footing now than at, the beginning of the month.

•‘So far as the North Island is concerned, the drought is probably practically over. Even in Canterbury, there have been scattered rains.

“Equally dry periods baye. beep experienced in other, years, but they have usually begun later in the snmiiier. On this occasion too, the dry weather has been accompanied by the warmest weather hitherto ’ recorded t since the dry spell, when the heat was at its greatest and the days at their longest. The effect on pastures was more severe. “Another important point is that there, had been a great flush of growth in the spring. The result has been that, pastures were browned and burnt off, not only very completely hut also unusually early* in summer. Standing dry grass, of course, made fire risks very great. We 'have been fortunate in the absence of strong winds.”