THE DROUGHT IN THE SOUTH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9023, 9 January 1908, Page 5

THE DROUGHT IN THE SOUTH.

GREAT DESTRUCTION OF CROPS. ' OUTLOOK LESS PROMISING. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, January 8. Throughout Canterbury a lengthy period of almost rainless weather has wrought great destruction to crops and pastures, and the outlook is daily becoming less promising. Several times lately there have been indications of a change in ths wea--1 ther, but these promises of a breakup of the drought have not been fulfilled, and yesterday the thermometer registered 80 deg. in the shade. As i a result of the extremely dry wea(ther in the past month crops, particularly on lighter and more porous soils, have ripened prematurely, and in these cases grain will be light. Crcps on better class of soils, however, have come through the ordeal wonderfully well, while gardens are not nearly in such a bad condition as might"have been expected after such a long drought. Grass paddocks are beginning to suffer severely, and some apprehension is beginning to be felt about the autumn fefid. It is feared that scarcity of feed during the next few months may cause farmers to rush their sheep and lambs on the market, causing an over-supply with the probable result of a further drop in values.