HAWKE’S BAY CONDITIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1926, Page 10

HAWKE’S BAY CONDITIONS

STILL SHORT OF RAIN. STOCK LOOKING WELL. “I*ve been back home about twelve months, and I don’t think I’ve had a thorough wetting in that time.” In this wise did Sir Andrew Russell epitomise to a Star representative the climatic conditions which have been causing considerable concern and substantial losses to Hawke’s Bay pastoralists. However, during the past winter there were occasional rains, and it would appear that a few timely showers during the next few months are all that ia necessary to ensure a reasonably successful season to the primary producers of that province. Sir Andrew stated the position as follows: e have had a very favourable spring, although the weather conditions have continued dry, but. as there was a good early spring growth of exceptional quality, both cattle and sheep have picked up remarkably well. ‘’The clip promises to be in good order, and*of a better weight than last year. We have, of course, as the result of the prolonged drought last summer considerably less stock. It is hard tc generalise, but 1 should say that the sheep stocks are down 10 to 15 per cent, and cattle are also verv consider*! bl v less. “The lambing this year was below tin average, possibly as much as 10 per cent. This result, curiously enough, ap pears to have been brought about by th general absence of twins. The cond’» tion of the lambs is exceptionally good. “'l’hc position generally is that we have had an exceptionally dry period during the past twelve months, and there is in consequence an absence of subsoil mc’sture. During the past '-month nr so there has not been what I should consider a good growth of early summer pasture. I should add that, where tillage operations have been carried out, the crops appear to prom exceedingly well, due to the favour, conditions for working the soil. “For the rest,” smilingly con elm I Sir Andrew, “the issue is in the lap < the gods. We may be in tor anotT dry summer, or wo may get the r. which is essential to a successful s son.”