THE WEATHER AND THE PASTORAL OUTLOOK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8331, 14 January 1907, Page 5

THE WEATHER AND THE PASTORAL OUTLOOK.

By Telegraph—Press Association. NAPIER, January 12. There was an exceptionally heavy downpour of rain here last night. It will do an immense amount of good. Visitors to the back country report that the need for rain was greatly felt, and in some districts house supplies have to be carted long distances. WAIPAWA, January 12. • After a long spell of exceptionally hot weather, rain has been falling steadily from before daylight, and promises to continue. CARTERTON, January 12. Thunder, rain and hail were experienced in the Wairarapa last evening, covering the whole area to the East Coast. In some parts rain had not fallen for two months, and the fall was worth thousands of pounds to the farmers. The weather is hot, but showery, this morning. CHRISTCHURCH, January 12. Harvest and pastoral reports from North and Mid-Canterbury are not bright. Crops are likely to be very light, and the pastures are far from satisfactory. Rain, however, fell for two hours on Thursday night, and began again early this morning. The sky was clear at 9 o'clock, but became overcast again later. NEW PLYMOUTH, January 12. While other parts of the colony are almost drought-stricken, Taranaki is revelling in copious rainfall. Young turnips, of which a considerable area has been sown are thriving splendidly and the abundance of winter feed is becoming assured. The most important feature is, however, that the grass is growing freely. Thus the milk supply is pretty well kept up, though the excessive heat has tended to reduce the output lately. One disastrous effect, however, of the warm rain is the re-appearance of the potato' blight over a wide- j spread area. ASHBURTON, January 12. j After an exceptionally lengthy dry period a very welcome rain set in at ] nine o'clock on Saturday evening, j and continued steadily throughout the night/. The downpour should do [ a great deal of good to pasture.