RAIN OVER THE ISLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1921, Page 2

RAIN OVER THE ISLAND.

FARMERS’ TROUBLES AVERTED. GOOD FALL IN MANY DISTRICTS. The rain which set in throughout the greater part of the North Island on Friday continued at intervals on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and the anxiety that wae occasioned by the unusual spring spell of dry weather has been dispelled. The temperature of the copious showers experienced during the past four days has been favorable to the growth of pasture anil all vegetation, and farmers, orchardists, and gardeners are very gratified with the satisfactory manner in which, the drought had been broken. The rain has also removed the position of the water supplies beyond any cause for apprehension. All over the Wellington province, welcome rain has fallen, and the Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay districts especially have benefited. Further north rain fejl, and at Tauranga and environs the pastures have benefited greatly, and it is thought that if the moist conditions continue there will be a good flush of feed, and a substantial increase in the yields from dairy herds. In the Waikato heavy rain fell throughout the week-end, and as a result, according to a correspondent, farmers are in good spirits. The land has received a thorough soaking, and as it is .also very warm the gross will eome away rapidly. Evon if no more rain should fall for some time, there should be no difficulty in maintaining adequate supplies of grass, and the dairying seaeon is confidently anticipated to be a record one. Although it has been so dry, it is rather remarkable that the grass has not been affected to any noticeable extent, though if the rain had not come when it did no doubt the dry spell would have had a very serious effect on dairying in thia district.

Rain in Auckland considerably augmented the city water supply. ’ In conversation with a reporter, the Mayor said: “The Waitakere reservoir is now within sir inches of the top, about 50.000,000 gallons having been added to the storage. The auxiliary dam at. Nihotupu is within a foot of the top, and the running streams are providing more water than was the case last week. The situation is therefore satisfactory so far as the water supply is concerned at present.” Similar good was done by the rain in the south, especially in North Otago.