LACK OF RAIN

Southland Times, Issue 22508, 16 February 1935, Page 6

LACK OF RAIN

DROUGHT CONTINUES POSITION ACUTE IN CANTERBURY METEOROLOGIST’S REVIEW (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, February 15. Observations on the weather prospects for New Zealand, and a review of the drought conditions prevailing over the last few weeks, were made to-day by Dr E. Kidson, Government Meteorologist. In an interview Dr Kidson said the drought conditions are particularly acute in Mid and North Canterbury and arc severe also in much of Marlborough, South Canterbury and Otago. In Nelson conditions this year have never been very bad, but the West Coast and Southland had good rains last month and are generally in good condition. In the North Island it is still dry, especially since much of the rain that has fallen has been of local character; not nearly so much benefit has been received from it, therefore, as there would have been from a steady general rain. Nevertheless there have been important relief rains in most districts. Hawkes Bay, Poverty Bay, parts of Wairarapa, Waikato and areas about and north of Auckland 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. r /en in Canterbury there have been scattered rains. Equally dry periods have been experienced in other years, but they have usually begun later in the summer. On this occas - ' too, the dry weather has been accompanied by the warmest weather hitherto recorded since the dry spell. When the heat was at its greatest and the days at their longest the effect on the pastures was all the 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, but also unusually early in the summer. Standing dry grass, of course, made fire risks very great. The country has been fortunate in the absence of strong winds.