WELCOME RAINS

Southland Times, Issue 16688, 17 March 1911, Page 5

WELCOME RAINS

DISTRICT REPORTS. The prolonged drought Is now «.t SR end In Southland, Wednesday’s down** pour of rain having been in evjdenoa everywhere. The farmers are particu-* larly jubilant at the change of weather that has occurred, and they look for-« ward with confidence to both autumnsand winter feed for their stock coming away in plenty. Householders, who depend on tank supplies for their water* also find their recent troubles at an end* In Invercargill and the immediate vlcl—. nity heavy rain prevailed throughout! Wednesday night, and for the greatew part of yesterday light moisture also fell. ; Correspondents at outlying district® have sent us the following information* viz.:— I GORE.—About an inch of rain ha* fallen in and around Gore. It started early on Wednesday afternoon and did not cease until 8 a.m. yesterday; cloudy and dull weather then setting '.in. Already vegetation has benefited, and wltM the ground retaining the warmth of recent sunshine, turnip crops and grass will thrive to advantage. The stock sale held at Rlversdale to-day is expected to give an indication of improvement! in the store sheep trade. OTAUTAU. —A splendid rain started between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, and continued right away until 7 a.itu, yesterday. The weather at the same time remained mild and warm, and although the sky was mostly overcast yesterday there were occasional gleams of sunshine. Early turnips are In many cases too far gone to recover, but lata crops will now mature to the full, lathe declining days of its season dairying; will almost have a renewed lease of Ufa* WINTON. —From 3 p.m. on Wednes* day until 6 a.m. yesterday a warm pleasant rain fell without cessation, and with the sun shining yesterday afternoon members of the farming community were once more on good terms with! themselves. All sections of the agricultural world have received the rain withi delight. LUMSDEN. Lumsden experienced twelve hours hard rain, the downpouc continuing until 11 a.m. yesterday. Sun* shine succeeded the rain. , WYXDHAM. Fifteen to > ighteea hours’ rain has quite altered the aspect of the country, and everyone is now sal*' Isfied with the conditions of things* Sheep and dairy farmers wear smiles ont their faces in place of the former anxx lety which was depicted on their conn* tenances. I

WAIRIO and BIRCHWOOD. Front Wednesday afternoon until close upont mid-day yesterday rain - clouds discharged steady volumes of moisture. Bot& cattle and sheep appeared to appreciate! the change from the drought and gr as* and turnip paddocks soon lost tbeltf scorched-up hue. 4 BALFOUR. —A steady rain of fifteen hours has Improved farming matter*, immensely. The grass is all carted so If, has suffered in no way, whilst on th* other hand the anxiety of farmer* as t» exhaustion of feed has been dispelled. ( GLADFIELD. —The breaking of th« drought, so long delayed has come atf last. Yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon about four o’clock the rain started to fall, and this (Thursday) morning Is still continuing. As the rain Is a softs warm one It will do Incalculable good t<* the country, and will freshen up pastures, and give the turnips a muchneeded set-off. As I write the rain looks as If it were going to continue. MATAURA. —At Mataura on Wednesday rain commenced to fall at about 3.30| p.m. and continued until mid-day yesterday. The downpour had the effect of freshening up the dried pastures and turnip crops and the colour of the hill* surrounding the township has been? changed from brown to green. Another; good result the rain has brought about} has been to fill the tanks of the many} householders who have been carting water for some time past. So far tho river has not risen much and the Paper*. Mills Company is hoping that It will notf rise for a day or two yet as a gang of men is being put on this afternoon to widen the draught chute in the race so as to give more power.