RAIN AT LAST

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3247, 2 April 1943, Page 4

RAIN AT LAST

LONG DROUGHT BROKEN 1.76 INCHES OF RAINFALL SEVERE STORM LAST NIGHT When the wind on Wednesday afternoon 'took an easterly slant and commenced to swirl the autumn leaves about in Paeroa the opinion that rain was not far away was expressed by more than one and their prediction proved correct, the long drought, which has existed since well before Christmas, breaking that night when light rain commenced to fall soon after dark. By 9 a.m. next morning, with the light rain practically ■ continuous throughout the night with occasional heavy but short showers, .09 inches of rain had fallen. Throughout Thursday the rain continued, the wind gradually increasing in gusts until at times it reached gale force, the rain driven by the wind becoming heavier. By 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon .35 inches had fallen since 9 a.m. that morning.

By Thursday night the weather which had been fine so long, had become a severe storm and many workers were drenched to the skin in the short walk from their place of business to their homes. 1.67 Inches For 24 Hours

The storm continued throughout Thursday night, and the rainfall recorded at 9 a.m. this morning (Friday)l was 1.67 inches for the 24 hours, making a total of 1.76 inches since the rain started.

The barometer which read at 30.23 inches on March 31, had fallen to 3.20 inches on Thursday and to 29.82 inches this morning (Friday). The thermometer, on the other hand had risen from 58 degrees on March 30 to 61 degrees on March 31, to 63 degrees on April 1 (Thursday) and was registering 64 degrees this morning (Friday). The rainfall in Waihi since the rain commenced is 3.1 inches.

Although some farmers consider the rain has come too late to stop the falling off in production of their herds the burned up pastures should be able to recover before the cold weather of the winter sets in. Has Improved The Plains

A well-known Hauraki Plains farmer expressed the opinion to a Gazette representative this week that the long dry spell had been of immense value to the district and that as a result all would benefit greatly in the seasons ahead-

As a result of the strong wind gardens have been somewhat knocked about, while flying leaves have made a nuisance in and about the town.

At one house in Paeroa windows in a sunporch were blown in.