DROUGHT IN AUCKLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1919, Page 6

DROUGHT IN AUCKLAND.

POSITION IN THE NORTH. The absence of rain, which lias been a notable feature of the weather conditions in Auckland for some time past, continues (says Monday's Herald). The drought in the north is creating a serious situation, and among farmers a very pessimistic spirit prevails, though hopes are still entertained of some winter growth. The fear is general, however, that the cattle will have become so weakened that they will not recover with the spring, while, on the other hand, the winter rains and mud wil take their toll.

There is, however, another view of the 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 also be remembered that good burns are being experienced, and much clearing work is made possible. A stock-dealer stated recently that he had been told of one man who had declared that half the stock 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 effect on the markets,

Keferring to losses reported, the stocktlealer said he had heard of some, but (hey were mostly from bad farmers. Cattle had got weak and poor and had strayed int6 swamps and holes, but ho did not look for great mortality Mcny of the farmers were turning their stock out on to the gumflelds, where they were doing remarkably'well on wee wee and 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 worst he had ever known. In some places he noticed that the best farmed lands had the least grass. If rain came now it might be disastrous, as it would eome 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 an 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 the bush and scrub As an illustration of how the milk supply had been affected, he said that from a herd of 11 cows one man only obtained three-quarters of a bucket of milk