HEAVY DRIZZLE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 365, 5 March 1932, Page 11

HEAVY DRIZZLE.

Rain General Throughout Canterbury. SPORTS POSTPONED. Light drizzling rain commenced to fall in the city and suburbs early this morning and continued throughout the day, becoming heavier during the afternoon. Although the fall was fairly general over the province, in most districts it was not of sufficient strength to do any material good. Reports received from Ashburton stated that there had been a fairly heavy southerly drizzle since five o’clock in the morning. Practically all sports fixtures except cricket had been postponed. It was stated that the rain would have very little effect on the wheat as the farmers had got most of it in. There was a little wheat :n stook which had started to sprout as a result of the previous rain, and no doubt the rain would hasten an increase in growth. Reports from Rangiora stated that there had been a heavy drizzle since nine o’clock. Most of the farmers had their wheat stacked, while quite a number had finished their threshing. As a result of the weather, Pilot-Officer J. S. Fraser postponed his projected parachute descent at Rnngiora until 6.30 to-morrow evening. Oxford reported a fine drizzle all the morning, while the weather was overcast during the afternoon. At Springfield an easterly drizzle w’hich commenced at 8 o’clock in the morning had set in and showed no signs of lifting at 2 o’clock. The weather at Leeston was threatening all morning, but at 2 o’clock no rain had fallen. Darfield reported at 2 o’clock that a heavy drizzle had fallen continuously since early morning, while misty conditions prevailed. At Cheviot no rain had fallen although the weather was overcast and a thick mist was drifting in from* the east. City Sports. The Fendalton, Phillipstown and Sydenham Swimming Club’s carnivals were postponed. The Phillipstown and Sydenham carnivals will be held next Saturday and the Fendalton carnival on March 19. It was decided to continue with tile Canterbury amateur athletic championships at Lancaster Park this afternoon. A few members of the Canterbury Girls’. Cricket Association, Clad in mackintoshes and carrying umbrellas, inspected the wicket at Malvern Park this afternoon and decided that it was unfit for play. The match, Probables v. Possibles, for the selection of the Canterbury team, will probably be played next week. . The Canterbury Cricket Association was forced to postpone the grade matches, though such a course entailed a great inconvenience. The last day s play in the semi-finals has already been twice postponed, once for rain and once on account of the test match against South Africa. This further postponment may have the effect of limiting the final match to two afternoons’ play. It was intended to go on with the play however unpleasant the conditions, but the state of the pitches prohibition that course, except at Sydenham Park, where the Old CollegiansSydenham match was proceeded with. Suburban cricket was also continued. The interprovincial tennis matches were transferred to North Beach, where the courts were not badly affected by the rain. Brcadsiding to be Held. Broadsiding will be held as usual at Monica Park, speedway to-night. The rain has not interfered with the track in any wav and it is anticipated that there •will be record crowds as Wally Kilmister, the undoubted champion of the Dominion, will be riding. He will meet Anderson and Blackiock in a three-cornered match race. HOTTEST FOR YEARS. Mr F. L. Wooles states that yesterday, with a maximum shade temperature of 86 degrees, was the hottest March day since March 8, 1924, when the shade temperature rose to 89.8 degrees, which, on that occasion, exceeded the highest summer record of the present year, namely, 88.2 degrees on January 23. Though generally assumed in this country to be an autumn month rather than a summer month, it is nevertheless a fact that March, with a mean temperature normally somewhat higher than November, must be included in the latter category. Hence any marked high temperature at the present time of the year is not altogether an unusual feature.