DROUGHT BROKEN.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15075, 19 May 1919, Page 5

DROUGHT BROKEN.

WELCOME RAIN BETS IN.

After an extremely protracted spell of weather, very welcome rain set in early yesterday morning, and continued intermittently% throughout the day. Alfcho\igh«a .great deal has not yet fallen, it \yill prove beneficial to tho country, ■which was beginning to suffer "from the drought. Being warm, the rain should tfreahen up vegetation and promote growth, which iiad been seriously retarded. It was learnt yesterday thafct heavy rain 'was falling at tne Rai., it is worth noting that this much-desired change in the weather was anticipated by Mr Bates, the Government Meteorologist.

! UnIVEH PkWMs ASROGIA-lISIS.]

'Auckland, May 18. The drought has broken. Tho weather had been threatening for severtxl •days. A heavy north-easterly gale blew for about three hours before daylight this morning, accompanied by a thunderstorm, and heavy, rainfall. To 9 a.m. the precipitation was's.S2in. The weather moderated, to-day, but it remains threatening. The barometer has fallen 70 since Thtirsday, and is now 29.70, 'the :]owest for several weeks. The last rainfall over an inch was on October 24th, the'highest recorded since then be:ing .86in for the 'M .hours ended at 9 ;» m. 'on March 15th. The total rainfall this rear is now Bin.

Wangarei, May 17. _The protracted spell of drought in the "VVhangarei district-has now been effectually broken by a useful warm rain which ■set in last night and continues. Countr/ reports indicate that the zone of ihs 'rainfall is not yet very extensive, but the prospects of a general influence are igaod. ■:'...

•Wellington, May 18. The dry spell -was broken to-day by a • Steady fall of rain, which will do the ■parched country-an incalculable amount ■of good. The-rain will lessen the anxiety that was being felt with regard to the city's water supply, but the need for 'economy in the'use of water still exists.