EAST COAST DROUGHT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10279, 14 May 1919, Page 6

EAST COAST DROUGHT

WORST FOR 50 YEARS SHEEP AUCTIONED AT HALF-A-CROWN EACH. The drought from which the Hawke's Bay district is suffering at present is having tho most far-reaching effects (states the Napier "Daily Telegraph"). Feed, which has been extremely Bcarco on tho flats during the last few weeks, has now totally disappeared and even the trees which hare been cut down to keep the stock alive have been shorn ot all that sheep or cattle could possibly oat. In some parts the- settlers have been" reduced to cutting down orii'iuunfal trees in order to keep sheep mid cattla fed. The position is particularly bad on the flat land around Has-' t.ngs, and there is a general movement of stock all over tho district, owners making the most of lands carrying any teed as the result of no stock being on tho land recently. Up in the higher country, which is later country than the flats, the situation is bad but not nearly so severe as in other places. RAIN NOW WILL. ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE.

A well-known Hawke's Bay settler told a "'Telegraph'' reporter that tho present conditions were- the worst he had seen in Hawke's Bay, and he had been farming there for tho last* 50 years. He added that the outlook was extremely gloomy a 3 it was now too late for rain to be of service. As a matter of fact this farmer gave it a» his opinion that rain now would only make tho position of the farmers worse. At- present the weather was fairly warm, and there "was a good temperature in the ground and the sheep were thus permitted to sleep dry and warm. Under these conditions the stock was ke?pmg up its condition wonderfully well, but if a cold rain set in thw sheep'aifd cattle would melt away like snow in the sun. A cold snap would he the • worst thing that could happen for the farmer, as wet and hungry iheep and cattle would not hold out long. There was a hope, said the farmer, that-if'-there was a good rain "Sheep's Burdett," or wild parsley, would make its appearance on the harder ■■ faces. This-parsley was even better feeding than rape for lambs and sheep thrived on it well, but this advantage could not be expected on the better lands, where Burdett would not grow. The freezing works are fo full that no relief can be found in killing for export, but so short is feed that hundreds 'cf sheep are being slaughtered ■ daily at the Westshore freezing works «nd bolted down for the fat. The dry season has caused all the foads, to become extremely heavy and the .numerous mobs .of sheep which pass over,them only make the thoroughfare worse and the driving of small stock more difficult.

Recent sale reports shew that auctioneers are quitting sheep at prices as low as 2s 6d each and, if present conditions prevail much longer sheep on the Hawke's Bay plains will betome-. quite -worthless. REPORTS PROM AUCKLAND. The drought in the north is creating e, serious situation, (states the Auckland "Herald"), and among farmers a very pessimistic spirit prevails, though hopes are still entertained of some winter growth. The fear ia general, however, that the cattle will wave become so weakened that they will not recover ; vith the spring, while on the other hand the winter rains and mud will take their toll. There is, however, another view of che position, which is not so gloomy. For instance, men. who know the North well, are confident that the spell given the grass, combined with the sweetening influence of the sunshine, will, under normal conditions, bring abundant spring growth. It must aiso be remembered that good burns are being experienced and much clearing work is made possible. A stock dealer stated recently that ho had been told of onq man who had declared that half the etock in the north would die during the winter, but he did not agree with that view. When rain came there would be some growth. Not so much as might be hoped for, but they would get something to tide over. The winter was not cold, and unless ...the rain was excessive he hoped there would be. no great losses. The drought was certainly -the worst one in the History of the north, and had had a bad affect on the markets. Referring to ' losses reported, the stock dealer said he had heard of some, but they were mostly from bad farmers. Cattle had got weak and poor 'and had strayed into swampa and holes, •—" but-he "did not' look for great mortality. Many, of the farmers were turning their stock out on to the gumfiolda, where . they were* doing remarkably well on wee "wee arid in the swamps. Some farmers had kept their stock on until they were too poor, and some of these got into holes. No particular district had suffered. The north was generally well watered. ■ ■

Another stock dealer stated that in the experience of a lifetime in the* north the present drought was the worss ho had ever known. In some •places he noticed that the best-farmed lands had the least grass. If rain came now it might he disastrous, as it would come too late to do any good. Grass, like a man, wanted a spell now and'then. In all probability they would have a good spring with ah abundance of grass. During the winter, however, he was afraid there would be considerable mortality. Most of the dairy herds had been turned out into tho - bush and scrub. A» an illustration of -•■how the-milk supply had been affected, he said that from a herd of eleven cows >no man only obtained three-quarters • -of a-bucket of milk.

DEY SPELL- WELCOME AT WHAKATANE. WHAKATANE, May 13. The dry spell seems to suit the land around Whalcatane. Household tanks are friong dry, but the excess moisture has disappeared on Bangitaiki swamp, resulting in good growth of firm feed, and much development work, such as roading and drain r making on the hill areas. SERIOUS 'POSITION .FOR WHANGAREI. Trent AKiirfatfon. AUCKLAND, May 13. The Auckland district is still suffering from prolonged drought. Reports from' Waikato state that tho prices of stock are falling and feed is very scarce. Farmers are trying to rush fctock to the market, but the freezing works aro full and buyer.i aro holding off. ■ *" A visitor just returned from Wha

ngarei states that the Wnir.mi river is eo low that a man can walk across ihe top of tho falls. As the river suppliesthe electric station with power matter has become serious, and already there has not heetv enough power tr> keep the cement works supplied as well as to light Whangarei.