Drought Hits District

While many parts of New Zealand have been afflicted with unusually heavy rainfall this summer, and some districts have experienced widespread and damaging floods, Gisborne and the East Coast have had drought conditions for the past month or two, which are now assuming serious proportions.

Since November 1, only 2.19 in of rain has fallen at Darton Field meteorological station, and the year (1957) was the second driest since records have been kept at the station (since 1942). The driest year was 1946.

The country looks to be drier than for many a long year, due partly to the fact that the drought was accompanied in its earlier stages by persistent westerly winds.

Butterfat figures are down (at one factory, 27% on last January), and farmers are feeding cattle on willow leaves and hay.

And, of course, every resident is familiar with another aspect of the abnormally dry conditions—the mournful wail of the fire siren. In December and January the brigade has answered calls to 55 fires, of which 32 were grass fires.