LIGHT RAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 April 1943, Page 2

LIGHT RAIN

NO RELIEF TO PARCHED PASTURES. ONLY 30 POINTS RECORDED LAST MONTH. A light drizzle fell in Masterton and district this morning, after one or two brief showers last evening, but as only five points of rain have been recorded in the past 24 hours it has brought practically no relief to the parched pastures. . From Tinui and the East Coast area it is reported that settlers are strictly rationing the use of water. The pastures are still bone dry and could well do with a good soaking rain. From other parts of the district it is reported that more or less similar conditions exist. Last month, according to the records of Mr H. M. Boddington, only 30 points of ram were registered at Solway, as compared with an average for the past 40 years of 2.59 inches. Rain was measured on 6 days in March, the maximum fall being 14 points on the 19th, and the minimum 1 point on the Sth. The total of 30 points compares with 4.07 (1942), 3.87 (1941), 2.52 (1940), .78 (1939), and 1.51 (1938). The years and months in the past 40 years on which less than half an inch of rain was recorded are:—February, 1908, pl points; March, 1921, 37 points; December, 1916, 33 points; February, 1929, 29 points; March, 1943, 30 points; December, 1934, 8 points. The total rainfall for the past 3 months is 497 inches, as against 11.61 (1942), 11.42 (1941), 6.51 (1940), 1.92 (1939), and 11.13 (938). The average for forty years for the quarter is 8.G7 inches.