The Chronicle LEVIN. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26. 1916. OUR INCIPIENT DROUGHT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 February 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26. 1916. OUR INCIPIENT DROUGHT.

This summer has been the driest known in Horowhenua County since 1910-11. Yet there have been showers at intervals of three weeks or iewall this year; in fact billet October. Well for this county that the weather conditions have been ameliorated iu this way, ior the soil of these parts cannot sustain long periods of dryness witfiout great detriment to its growths. In such period those we are passing through this year the settTers must reflect with more {than usual earnestness upon tlie fortunate circumstance that real y droughty conditions are unknown in these parts. If we were to experience the months of continuous drought that afflict Hawke's Bay from time to time, the cultivators (and the dairyfarmers in ■particular) would sustain losses that might prove irreparable. The present freedom of the district from such risks is attributable to two main causes: (1) the i>lenteousJy wooded hills ol the Tararuas, and (2) the lakes and; ta.goous scattered down the coast from ToKornaru bo WiUjJta-iiciic, inore especially near Levm and Oiiau. li these ' were to disappear, the weather conditions of this district would change speedily, and for the worse. While the woodedi hills remain as they have been, no risk of enduring drought will exist tor this county, but in the time when they shall become hare of arboreal covering the present equable rainfall ol this district will .be disturbed. The testimony of scientists supports this , statement; the reports of experts attached to the New Zealand Forestry Department have set iorth the like opinion about various similar districts. Hawke's Bay doubtless wa* free lrom droughts in the pristine days of New Zealand settlement, but the den'odation of the forests on her uplands dimished the rain-compelling capacities of her environs, and the decay of root bindings and of the undergrowth vegetations of her one-time forests, resulted in the flowing-off of her rains becoming so quickened that her soils lost a. lot of their l-etentiveness. J lie sad experiences of some districts should be the savings of others. If the lesson we have adumbrated above be read aright by the settlers of Horowhenua County, they will use their best endeavours to minimise destruction of tree growths on any of the privatelyowned foothills on this side of the Tararua Ranges.