THE NOVEMBER RAINS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 975, 16 November 1910, Page 7

THE NOVEMBER RAINS.

VERY WELCOME IN THE . COUNTRY. Three weeks of dry weather in New Zealand at this time of the year means . much' to the farmer, and up till two . dajs-ago his kind had been lamenting the absence of rain, which threatened to seriously check tho spring growth of 5 grass. Particularly has. the dry weather been felt in tho Hawke's Bay and' Poverty Bay districts, whe-ro the green L mantle of spring has browned before its i time. The districts. closer to Welling- , toll have also experienced a dry time, but the copious downpour of the last two. days should do much to brighten 5 np the countryside. Rain was reported > yesterday from the East Cape, Kai--3 koura, Cape Campbell, Blenheim, Timaril, and Oamaru, and, of course, Wel- - lin'gton, which indicates that the nn-_ \ settled conditions deplored in the city f were over a ' wide belt of the 1 country. Substantial benefit should - follow.: The wind veered round to the south-east hero early yesterday mornr ing, and the conditions became quite ,- wintry during the day and last night. t There are evidence's , now of a' break ; in tho dull weather, and spring may bo t expected to soon resnme her sway.. 3 OTHER CENTRES. ' -> (Br .Telegraph.—Press. Association.! ;' ' ' • Oamaru, November 15, '' Welcome rain fell over every part of North Otago district this morning, in J some localities a fall of lin. .being re- ; corded. .Although in some instances. the crops aro too.far gone to. bq beneJ fited, the rain twill do an immense • amount of good. Blsnheim, November 15. i The .'dry spell'has broken in Marl- . borough, good rain being reported from all parts of the district. ' ! Ashourton, November 15. _ 'After a light drizzle yesterday morni ing, a heavy downpour of rain set in' late last night, one and a half inches falling up to nine o'clock, and nearly a 3 quarter of an inch between then and - nooii. The fall, which is the first of any consequence. experienced for over ' two months, is exceedingly 'welcome, and will bo just in time to save ' Crops ■ and revive pastures. ' Timaru; November'.lS.'' ! . Over an inch of rain fell here last , ' night and this morning. It will ,be of . '•immenso benefit... . .',- : Chrlstchurch, November 15. , , The rain that has set. in has brought great relief to farmers in Canterbury ■ as" the want of it had become a serious J matter. In those districts where the' - land is light, both oats and wheat crops , have.had to be.fed off, and the land is . , being reploughcd. for rape. A large [ area is therefore likely to be- sown in rape this season in view. of the shortage of grass and the heavy crop of * lambs that will have to be fattened ° off. . The spring-sown grain crops have j done so badly that the rain will bo' almost too late to save them, but the. autumn-sown crops-have not been so much affected by the dry weather, and should, with a good fall of rain now, , turn' out well.' .