WELCOME RAIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 62, 6 April 1943, Page 5

WELCOME RAIN

LONG DROUGHT BROKEN

PASTURES REFRESHED

The welcome rain which fell so consistently throughout this* district on Thursday was the steadiest and most beneficial since well before Christmas. In Whakatane the 24 hours ended on Friday morning showed' 1.34* ilnches while reports from the plains seem to indicate a much heavier falß The downpour narrowly averted what was beginning to have all the earmarks of a serious drought and farmers! generally have expressed' the greatest satisfaction. At Onepu, Te Teko and some of "the higher country, including Galatea the absence of rain had caused considerable alarm. One farmer in-* formed us last. Saturday that had the rain not developed he had made all arrangements for .shifting his -entire herd from bone dry paddocks. As it was he had been drawing water from m miles away for ovev 'three weeks'. Thursday and Friday combined to give a total fall of 1.64 inches, and ; the countryside is even now looking infinitely better than hitherto. Although some farmers consider the ra?in has come too late to stop the falling off in production of their herds the burned up pastures Should, be able to recover before the •.-cold weather of the winter sets in. Has Improved the Plains A well known Rangitaiki Plains 'farmer expressed the opinion to a :Beac.on representative this week that the long dry spell had been of immense value to the district and that as a result all would benefit rgreaty in the. seasons ahead. As a result of the. strong wind • gardens have been somewhat knocked about, while Hying leaves 'have made a nuisance in and about the town.