BREAKING OF THE DROUGHT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1057, 21 February 1911, Page 6

BREAKING OF THE DROUGHT.

NOT BEFORE IT-WAS TIME. . (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.! Palmerston North," February 20. The hot, dry.weather which;we have • been experiencing" for the ' past eight weeks was broken at daylight this morning. The change is, of course, very welcome, as the water supply for ; the town had reached a rather serious, position. The water had fallen over two feet below, the overflow lip, and should the stream have ceased to flow the town would have ; quickly been'in a serious plight. Tho, position to farmers also was becoming : acute. Dams and streams which ; had , not been known. to give out. before had . becomo quit® dry, and many farmers had been compelled :to cart water; for. Ion" distances. In one case a dairyman • has°had to drive his cows for three miles . to water night and . morning. ■.A settler ■ who has resided on. the banks, of the. Taonui stream for thirty-sis -years state that he had never before known this . course to cease running.. The ; Maoris - have been making' a harvest out of the . beds of the stream, digging scores of bags . of eels out of the muuand water holes. • The . roads throughout the district are I. in a badly broken up. state,: and this , has, of. course, made travelling,over them '.very uncomfortable. ' Feilding, February' 20. The lonsr-looked-for rain. which began to-day. will send the milk cheque? uj . again. Otaki, February 20.' ~ Eain, practically'the first "for nearlj two months, commenced to fall to-day ( - and will have a very beneficial-effect or pastures, which are now presenting i dry. appearance. Creeks, and even thi oli an River, have just been tricklins but the advent of rain, it is hoped, wil 1 restore them to ' their hernial'' stato - Householders alsohavo been complaining of shortage of water.. New Plymouth, February 20- - Light rain set in at 8.30 this morning. - which will'remove all anxiety on account of bush fires, and if continued will give - the pastures a fresh start.