THE DRY SPELL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10282, 17 May 1919, Page 8

THE DRY SPELL

favourable reports from THAMES. ; Press Association. THAMES, May 16. The prevailing dry weather is not affecting the Hauraki Plains, which are in fine condition and attracting considerable attention from buyers, and £75 per acre was recently realised for one section, while a block which was put up for auction brought £20,000, or in the vicinity of £SO per acre. The dry spell has ’improved the area considerably, and feed is plentiful. Ths total production last year was well over a quarter of a million sterling, and only a third of th« plains has yet been brought under the ballot. The Minister for Lands has promised greater vigour in the drainage operations. HEAVY DEWS AND LUXURIOUS GRASS. , OPOTIKI, May 16. In spite of the dry weather, the country in the Opotiki district looks fresh and green, portly duo to the heavy dews falling every night. Tb* growth of grass in tno low-lying areas is iiioru luxurious than usual. Hundreds of cattle brought from Poverty Bay during last week have been, purchased by Opotiki farmers at compare tively low prices, and in some cases grazing has been sold, to Poverty Bey Farmers. POSITION BAD IN MARLBOROUGH. BLENHEIM, May 18. Marlborough, in common with the rest of the Dominion, is feeling the severe drought, though not to the same extent as Hawke’s Bay and North Auckland. Rain is badly wanted, but the lucerne to some extent is stalling off disaster. The water is giving out, and. many of the rivers and creeks are drying up. No mortality amongst stock is reported, but prices have fallen considerably. The outlook for winter feed is not promising. It is iho worst dry spell known in the district. The Pelorus and Wakamartna rivers are vary low, and at Deep Creek crushing has been 'outvote suspended.