GOLDEN RAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20503, 3 January 1935, Page 7

GOLDEN RAIN.

, New Year Brings Welcome Gift. • • WORTH THOUSANDS.” 1“ The best New Year’s gift that the province could have had. It has come at the right time and it is the right sort of rain. It is worth thousands of pounds.” Thus a farmer this morning on the subject of the rain. Even the city people welcomed it gladly, for after the driest Christmas period on record, even the most ardent sun worshippers were feeling the need for a change to cooler conditions. Like the rain that gladdened everybody on New Year’s Day, the rain that fell this morning was of the light type that does the maximum of good. There was practically no wind —little more than a drift from the south-west —so that the damage that counterbalances the good done by stormy rain conditions was avoided. Country Delighted. Nearly the w r hole of a parched and drought-weary province shared in the rain this morning, and the reports from the country districts carried a jubilant note of satisfaction. After the oppressive conditions of recent weeks the cooler temperature acted like a tonic, and even those people who are interested neither in farms nor gardens were able to share in the general satisfaction. The weather yesterday was very hot, and, before noon, the city was sweltering under a temperature of 82 degrees. Although the sky was at times overcast there was no relief from the sultrv conditions till about dark. Then heavy banks of clouds climbed out of the north-west and there was every indication that the predicted thunder storm was about to burst. The gathering of the storm was -watched expectantly, but, beyond a light drizzle—scarcely sufficient to damp the pavements—nothing happened, and the stars were shining brilliantly at midr Lightning was playing about tne tar hills, and some of the places towards the foothills received a little rain, but the bulk of Canterbury was doomed to disappointment. Rain Commences. Early this morning, however, the clouds appeared again, and shortly before four o’clock light rain commenced in the city. Early risers were delighted to find the fall proceeding steadily, and there was every promise that it would continue to a point where appreciable good would be done to gardens and lawns. There w-as practically no wind, apd the thirsty soil absorbed the rain as quickly as it fell. Light rain continued intermittently throughout the forenoon, and at midday the sky was stiH heavily overcast despite the efforts of the sun to break through. Falls of varying volume occurred all over the province. In most instances the rain was light and steady and gave promise of continuing. Country Centres. Methven was one of the best favoured spots, for up to nine o'clock this morning it had recorded 91 points, making 125 points for the past 48 hours. Last evening the rain fell heavily from about six o’clock and there was still a steady downpour this morning. There Mas a slight Mind from the south-west, and it was expected that the rain M-ould continue. It has come just when the district badly needed it, and is of a type that will do the maximum of good. The rain reached Akaroa about seven o’clock this morning, since when there has been a persistent drizzle. Fog was lying about the hills and there was no wind. Springfield experienced some light rain overnight, and there was a drizzle, with no wind, this morning. The temperature was markedly lower. The hills M’ere shrouded in mist. Rain fell at Hororata throughout the morning, fairly heavily in the early hours and in a. steady drizzle later. 3he sky was heavily overcast and there was promise of more rain. Oxford experienced a fairly steady rain, with a light south-west wind. There had been steady rain overnight and there was every indication late this morning that the fall would continue for some time. A Unique Period. This welcome New Year gift of rain terminated a condition of drought that is unique within the period in which meteorological records have been kept in Canterbury. The rainfall for December was 0.04 in, the driest on record. In the 33 years that records have been kept in Christchurch there has not; been a drier month, though the Dec ember just past was equalled by February of 1908, for which the recording was also 0.04 in. Luckily for Canterbury the winter was wet, and the subsoil was carrying a big moisture content when the "testing time of the drought arrived. As a result most pastures came through the ordeal without serious damage, and the rain arrived just at the time when farmers were becoming really anxious.