DROUGHT IN THE SOUTH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13336, 27 March 1911, Page 5

DROUGHT IN THE SOUTH.

Further evidence of the unusual of Die drought in the South Island is provided by Mr William C. Kciteington, 1.5.0. (Under-Secretary of Lands), who has just made a complete tour of the West Coast. He has never known the trouble to bo so general, all parts of the South Island, except Southlands being affected. “The oldest inhabitant’Kfails to find a parallel,for the drought’Which has afflicted Westland this season, says Mr Kensington. There has never “Jieen so small a flow in the (Irey and Hokitika Rivers. At Reeflon the water frdm iho reservoir is at the disposal of the people for only an hour or two each morning. Grcymouth and Hokitika feel*'the Scarcity of water, too, and even so far south as Martin’s Hay, close to Milford Sopnd, the dry season has been exceptional. One good result, however, has been the splendid “burns” which have occurred 1 ; in the Huller Valley and its offshoots. • About 10,000 acres have been burned, ai\d, when laid down in grass, will give a great impetus to the dairying industry.