THE DROUGHT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5243, 24 February 1928, Page 3

THE DROUGHT.

NOTES FROM THE PLAINS. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS. In addition to causing an acute shortage of water for household use and for stock, the prolonged spell of dry weather has caused many troubles and inconveniences on the Hauraki Plains. Undoubtedly more'- Plainsites have ■ 'learned to swim this summer than in any other season, for while water has to be carted there was little available for absolutions, and the children’s usual Saturday night tub has given place to a Sunday trip to the beach., The Piako River, despite its muddiness at the present time on account ’ of there being little fresh water to stop the onrush of the spring tides, has been very well patronised, and night bathing has become very popular. A passenger by one of the service buses plying to and from the Plains was noticed to have an exceptional quantity of luggage. She volunteered the information that it was a month’s washing, which she was; taking to do at her sister’s place. : ' \ . The Orongo ferry is now running a special trip for water-carts travelling to and from Kirikiri, and concession rates are in operation for these vehicles.

The drying of the ground has caused concrete paths and yards to crack, and also houses to sink unevenly so that doors and windows will not work smoothly... Telephone and electric power poles are leaning in many directions, ;as the earth has dried away from them. Special gangs are to be employed ramming power poles. The Dairy Co/npany’s Piako River launch is still running to. its usual time-table, but above Kaihere 'Landing it grates on the river bottom and has to be assisted along with poles. Fire-fighters are hoping' and praying that there will be no wind; farmers depending on windmills for water for their stock are hoping and praying for more wityd. “No one realises how much, water is required by a herd of co.ws until he has had to pump it by hand,” gasped, a Plains farmer on Wednesday when there was no wind to operate his windmill. An old gentlemaa entered a Plains tea-room one day this week and soundly cursed the smoke from the peat and busjh fires for making his, fhroat sore. "Everyone who lights a fire these days should be publicly flogged every Saturday afternoon for the next five years,” he said. Those who are paying the sixty or more fire-fighters in the Torehape district would probably agree with him. The Plains West water • supply scheme is having a very thorough test, and it is coming through with flying colours. In fact, there is so much water available that practically every night the main is opened at some point for the purpose of flushing any silt out of the pipes. Lucerne is, doing particularly well on the Plains this year, and it is a safe bet that the farmers who have crops are pleased that they chose this season to experiment with this fodder.