DROUGHT IN WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19463, 31 December 1934, Page 6

DROUGHT IN WAIKATO.

POSITION SERIOUS. RECORD LOW RAINFALL. FIGURES BELOW AVERAGE. Each day of hot summer weathef adds to the seriousness of the position of farmers in the Waikato as the result of nearly two months of drought conditions. Unless a heavy and protracted fall of rain is experienced in the ‘course of the next few weeks, dairyfarmers will be faced with a critical outlook. During December only .64 in.Hof rain was registered in Hamilton—the lightest total for the month ever experienced —and the yearly total of 4i.39ins. is considerably below . the average annual figure of 46.32in5. s The past 12 months have proved the driest since 1930, when 3-B.79ins. were recorded.

Rain fell on only three occasions during December. On December -11 a sharp downpour was experienced in Hamilton, the fail amounting to_ ,s'lin., while on December 14 and 17 there were light showers in the town, the registrations being .OGin. and .07in respectively. In other portions of the district, however, the storm on December 17 was very severe, and at.\ Huntly as. much as 3in. were recorded. At Cambridge the recording was 1.85 in., while at Morrinsville the gauge read 1.21 in. Pastures are drying off rapidly, and, . with domestic supplies dwindling and many troughs and streams dry. the water problem is becoming acute lot; farmers. Many are being forced to make daily journeys to the nearest lake, river or stream to obtain a supply. There are few rain-water tanks which; are not completely dry. The severity of the drought is indicated by the. following figures, which show the total rainfall recorded during. December through the past 10 years:

■, Dec. Fall. Year • Ins--1924 record : fall) 8-06 1925 - 1926 2 - 87 1927 1928 f.BB 1929 J 930 1 - ‘? 1931 4.0 a 1932 4-9* 1,933 4-48 - 1934 ...' •'° 4 Peat Fires. Not ’only has Hamilton sweltered lathe unusual humidity, but its residents have also looked out upon a hazy vista of evil-smelling peat smoke, arising from fires on the Rukuhia swamp. Yesterday afternoon dense olouds : of smoke were arising, while after nightfall livid. tongues of fire and a dull glow were -to be * discerned on the horizon. Early this morning Hamilton was enveloped in mist.