REFRESHING RAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 941, 11 December 1933, Page 8

REFRESHING RAIN.

Lawns and Pastures Reap Benefit. GENERAL THROUGH PROVINCE. Canterbury yesterday enjoyed steady and refreshing rain, which came as a relief to those who had watched lawns, and pastures assume a tinder-like dryness over the past few weeks. Rain set in at noon, and except for a short break about eight o’clock, fell steadily during the night. This morning the rain had stopped on Christchurch and over most of the country districts. The sky was still overcast, and, while indications pointed to a return to fine weather, there was the possibility that a change in the wind might bring down the welcome rain again. In Lyttelton, the rain was especially acceptable, owing to the limitation which has been placed on the amount of water which may be used for garden purposes. A drizzle fell from noon until the early evening, when the fall became heavy. Although the rain has been sufficient to delay shearing, it is very welcome to farmers generally for the ground has been baked dry by hot weather, and in some districts, farmers have had to re-sow root crops which drought conditions have prevented from getting a start. Pastures, too, have been badly dried up during the last few weeks, and light as the fall so far has been, it will be sufficient to freshen up grasslands. Heavier in North. The fall was heavier in North Canterbury than in the Ashburton County and further south. The rain, however, was general over the Province, At Rangiora rain began to fall about 11.30 a.m. and was slackening off after a steady though light fall at 5.30 p.m. Later steady rain set in. Rain fell all flay at Methven, where there was a brisk south-westerly wind. Warm and humid conditions accofpanied the showers, which will be very beneficial for farmers, as the ground has been baked hard by north-west winds. The rain had ceased by this morning, and some of the local prophets were forecasting hot conditions. Ashburton experienced only occasional light showers with a light northeast breeze. The weather was very warm with a heavily overcast sky. Not sufficient rain fell during the day to be of any assistance to dried up pastures and retarded root crops. More rain fell during the night, but this morning, though overcast, seemed to herald a change to fair weather. At Methven .46in of rain fell in the twentv-four hours prior to 9 a.m. today. but unless the wind changed to the south-west the chances of a further fall appeared slight. Methven does not need rain so badlv as some of the North Canterbury districts. The crops are looking in splendid order, and rain at this time holds \ip. .tfie .^hearing.

Timaru is in the happy position of not being badly in need of rain. Only light showers were experienced in the district. It was a dull day and very In Culverden the wells are in danger of going dry, and although yesterday’s showers were not sufficient to bring much relief the indications were that the rain was by no means over. The countryside generally is in need of rain.