THE DROUGHT BREAKS.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 19 May 1919, Page 2

THE DROUGHT BREAKS.

Auckland, May 18. The drought has broken. Tho weather has been threatening for several days, and a heavy north-easterly gale blew for about three hours before daybreak this morning, accompanied by a thundorstorm and heavy rain.. The fall to 9 a.m. was 3.32 inches. Tho weather moderated to-day, but remains threatening. The barometer has fallen by .70 degrees since Thursday, and is now 29.70, tho lowest for several weeks. The lnfet fall, of over an inch, was on October 24th, tho highest since being .86 inch, recorded at 9 a.m. on March loth. Tho total this year is now eight inches.

Whangarei, May 17,

Tho protracted spell of drought in tho Whangarei district him now effectually broken by useful warm rain, whiek set in last night and continues. Country reports indieato that the zone is not yet very extensive, but prospeots of general influence are good. Wellington, May 19. After a long, dry spoil rain fell in Wellington from early yesterday morning, and continued all day. In the evening the clouds cleared away, however, and the moon shono out ou a cold, clear night. Tho downpour was particularly welcome, and as the rain during tho earlier part of tho day was fairly heavy, the reservoirs upon which tho city supply depends should havo benefited.

This district, unfortunately, did not share to any extent in tho rain. The rainfall for tho 21 hours up to 9 a.m. yesterday was only tlirco points (threehundredths of nn inch), while but very, littlo fell during last night, .Some light, showers have fallen to-day, but there is little likelihood of an extensive rainfall while tho wind remains from the south. , ;

COMPARATIVE FIGURES. Interviewed at Wellington, Mr D. 0, Bates (Government Meteorologist) mado interesting rcfcrenco to tho present drought. Mr Bates stated that tho rainfall had been deficient in Wellington for tho past four months. Tho actual rainfall daring that period had been 8.92 in, as against tho averago of 15.13 in. The fulling, off, ho said, had bccorno even moro pronounced during the last few months. Mr Bates gavo tho following figures for tho North Island for tho period of four months ending April:—

Actual Average rainfall, rainfall, inches, inches, i Maunganui .- 0.40 l-’-Ofl j Auckland 0.73 Hamilton 8.00 Rotorua 7.73 18.07 Gisborno ........ 5.03 10.08 Napier ......... 0.99 12.01 New Plymouth .... 15. SS 10.00 Ma3terton G. 05 11.93 Wellington 8,70 12.73