THE AUCKLAND DROUGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 177, 5 January 1915, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND DROUGHT.

THE PROVINCE PARCHED. GREAT SHORTAGE OF FEED. A DAIRYING AND PASTORAL CRISIS. A number of Taranaki farmers who returned from Auckland yesterday were apprehensive concerning the iot of Auckland primers and agriculturists on r.eeount of the • lengthy dry spell. "It was pitiful to see. it," said a man prominent in the dairying world to a Daily News reporter. "I have known the Auckland district all my life, and I have never seen it looking so bad and so bare. The outlook is serious—not a green blade of grass did I see except on the lawns in (lie towns." Proceeding, he said, "Auckland is burnt up. And not only is there 110 grass, but water is short 011 ■many of the farms, and I know of cases where farmers are carting water long distances for their stock or driving their cattle to drink from creeks oil properties more favourably situated with regard to running streams. 1 There is another bad feature, too, anil that is the impossibility of growing any winter feed. Large areas of ground are ready for turnips, but it is useless to sow the seed on account of the absolute want of moisture. There has, of course, been practically no hay saved, or land shut up for hay, on account of the scarcity of feed for stock, and I don't know what will happen in the winter." Our informant said that these conditions were general throughout the Auckland district, and he mentioned the great difference in the prospects of our own favored province of Taranaki, where feed was never more plentiful nor stock in better condition. "It would do some of our farmers good," said this informant, "and make them more contented with their lot a>,d prouder of their province, were they able to see the parched and brown areas up north. Undoubtedly Taranaki, in its dairying and pastoral prospects, is Just now a province to be envied."