RAIN AT LAST

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 83, 2 January 1935, Page 10

RAIN AT LAST

Welcome New Year Gift For Wellington CHANGE OF WEATHER Steady Showers General in Province The loug dry spell of brilliantly sunny weather which had ruled in Wellington for many weeks, was broken shortly after two o’clock yesterday afternoon by a welcome New Year’s gift—a fall of fairly heavy rain. A muggy temperature and heavy clouds blowing in from the north, presaged rain from early in the day. Most people looked on the gathering clouds as indicating nothing more than another sultry day, and those who had set out on picnics or who had gone off to tennis courts or cricket grounds were caught without coats when the rain came down in the afternoon. Intermittently it continued through the rest of the day, and realising that there was little likelihood of the fall ceasing, those who had intended to enjoy their New Year’s Day out of doors, turned homeward from four o’clock onward, many being wet through, but philosophical about it. At Featherston the weather was extremely hot for the greater part of the day. There was a light shower between 4 and 5 p.m. A hot day wqs also experienced at Carterton, but rain fel Ibetween 3 and 4 p.m. The shower was a light one. A light shower fell at Pahiatua between 5 and 6 p.m, yesterday. The remainder of the day was overcast, but hot.

At Dannevirke, after a hot day, rain set in at about 5 p.m., and at 8.30 rain was still falling steadily.

There was-no rain at Waipawa, the day being overcast and extremely hot. Hastings reported no rain, the day being hot. though the sky became overcast in the early evening.

Rain fell in some areas yesterday on the west coast. At Levin the day was fine and hot until 4.30 p.m., when light rain began to fall. At 8.30 no rain was falling, but the sky was overcast. -

Rain set in af 4 p.m. at Feilding, and last evening the welcome downpour was continuing unabated.'

After a windy morning in Hawera, rain fell between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m, Last evening the sky was overcast. , Rain set in at New Plymouth before mid-day, and conditions last evening were overcast. DRY SPELL BROKEN Benefit to Root Crops Dominion Special Service. Masterton, January 1. After about two months of hot dryweather steady rain set in in parts of the Wairarapa late this afternoon. The rain will be welcomed by farmers and residential growers alike. Though pastures in many cases are too dried-up for to-day’s rain to be of any material advantage, it will at least to some extent benefit root crops. The fall will also assist materially in alleviating the water-shortage, which in some districts is assuming a serious aspect. Provided the fall is of sufficient duration it will prove the salvation of farmers. There is no fattening in the grass now, and there is little likelihood of rain at this stage making any great difference. It is fortunate, however,' that the spring was such a good one, enabling farmers to get away a good number of oats. Sheep are almost, at a standstill just now. There is a possibility the rain might spoil cereal crops, in stocks, but most harvesting has been completed now, while haymaking operations are almost finished in many districts. SOAKING FOR PASTURES Feilding, January 1. Steady rain is falling after a period of eight weeks’ unprecedented dry spell. The dry spell had its effect on farm production, and butterfat returns dropped over ten per cent, and are still falling. Fat lambs were scarcely affected, though at the beginning they showed signs of lack of feed. The grass pastures have turned brown, but deep-rooted crops like lucerne and clover are standing up well. Wheat and millet crops look well, but maize showed signs of wilting binder the long spell of hot sun. Rain continues steadily, soaking in much better than a heavy downpour.