THE WEATHER.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18218, 31 October 1924, Page 10

THE WEATHER.

STEADY RAIN

S<eadv rain set in early yestcrday morning. wim ft south-west wind, and 1-ept up all day. Towards evening it increase* in volume, and the ni S ht was wet. and bleak. The rainfall recorded at. ••The Pros*" office up till 1 o'clock this morning was .Coin. After several days of strong nor'-west winds, there was a change in the weather at Scargill yesterday. Rain set in from the south-west. about '.> a.m.. and increased to a heavy downpour, which continued throughout the dav. Tins, together with the rain ol a fortnight ago. lias given the ground ;s, thorough soaking, and any tears t har were still entertained by farmers regarding the supply of feed for the early summer should now be finally dispelled. During the past week or two considerable area* of rape have been drilled, and grass seed sown. which will receive tho full benefit ot the present rain. Since the rain oi a fortnight ago. pastures and crops alilcc liavo made verv rapid growth, and the country generally is looking very well. Crops which a month ago were looking parched and thin have made a great recovery, and promise some very good yields. ' The area in crop this season "seems to lie well uo to the average. Stock generally is in very good condition, as there'has been no acute shortage of feed during the spring, but some of the farmers are still complaining of the mortality among the best grown lambs. Many farmers have shorn their drv sheen, 'and general reports indicate that the wool is well grown this season, and in particularly good condition. . After two davs of north-west winds the weather at Kirwee changed late on "Wednesday night, a strong wind blew up'from the south-east. Rain commenced to fall early yesterday morning, and continued all day, "ftvfive points !*>ing registered, making 38S for the month. After a nor'-wesfc gale at Methvcit on Wednesday, the weather changed to rain in the early hours of yesterday, and by 9 a.m. 76 points were registered on the gauge a't the Methven Post Office, and rain was still falling. The rain was welcome, and will be of benefit to the crops and the country generally. An exceptionally good rain fell oyer the whole of North Canterbury yesterday and. following the rain of a fortnight ago, will be of immense liencfit to'the country, which is now looking at its best. During the past week the crons and grass have made a wonderful growth, and right through the country there seems to be an abundance of feed. A southe'lv wind followed the nor - wester at Timaru on Wednesday evenins, and heavy rain fell during the nisht, continuing till about 9 o'clock yesterdav morning, bv which time 68 points of rain had fallen. As a conclusion to the north-west weather experienced in Ashburton during Wednesday, rain set in about 1.0 p.m. and continued in heavy showers throughout the night, with a result that up to 9 a.m. yesterday 47 points were registered. The downpour had the effect of further brightening up the countryside.