2958
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 99

Rainfall for November, 1904—continued.

SOUTH ISLAND—continued.

(C.) EAST ASPECT.—KAIKOURA TO CAPE SAUNDERS—continued.

Windermere .. .. | Miss F. J. M. Wright .. | .. | 7 | 0·50 on 21st
Pleasant Point .. .. | J. Bishop .. | 1·20 | 7 | 0·50 on 21st
Timaru .. .. | R. Fergusson .. | 1·725 | 10 | 1·39 on 21st
Timaru Reservoir. .. | J. Courtney .. | 1·52 | 8 | 1·05 on 21st
Waimate .. .. | W. M. Hamilton .. | 0·92 | 12 | 0·24 on 1st
Geraldine .. .. | E. F. Temple .. | 1·26 | 8 | 0·36 on 21st
Orari Gorge (Woodbury) .. | Mrs. B. E. H. Tripp .. | 2·27 | 11 | 0·58 on 10th
Windsor Park (Oamaru) .. | W. Menlove .. | 0·79 | 12 | 0·17 on 1st
Maheno (Oamaru) .. .. | R. J. Hendrie .. | .. | .. | ..
Kauroo Hill, Maheno .. | C. de S. Teschemaker .. | 1·09 | 12 | 0·20 on 21st

(D.) SOUTH ASPECT—CAPE SAUNDERS TO POYSEGUH POINT.

Otekaike (Oamaru) .. | John Tait .. | 0·72 | 12 | 0·25 on 21st
Queenstown .. .. | A. H. Hiddlestone .. | 4·67 | 17 | 1·19 on 3rd
St. Bathan’s .. .. | J. Ewing .. | .. | .. | ..
Gladbrook St’n, Middlemarch’ | F. R. Jeffreys .. | 2·01 | 12 | 0·52 on 11th
Roxburgh .. .. | Dr. W. J. Mullin .. | 2·095 | 13 | 0·54 on 15th
Kokonga .. .. | R. W. Glendinning .. | 0·87 | 12 | 0·24 on 21st
Tarras .. .. | T. McWhirter .. | 1·54 | 6 | 0·49 on 18th
Orokonui Home, Waitati .. | Dr. Gault .. | 1·57 | 14 | 0·39 on 14th
Caversham .. .. | G. M. Burlinson .. | 1·86 | 16 | 0·45 on 11th
Blackmount (Clifden) .. | Mrs. R. McKenzie .. | 7·57 | 23 | 1·33 on 5th
Ranfurly (Eweburn) .. | A. W. Roberts .. | 1·06 | 10 | 0·32 on 21st
Tapanui .. .. | R. G. Robinson .. | 2·87 | 15 | 0·35 on 14th and 17th
Balclutha .. .. | J. W. Brame .. | 2·27 | 13 | 0·40 on 5th
Galloway (Alexandra South) (a) | A. Gunn .. | 0·33 | 3 | 0·19 on 16th
Clyde .. .. | J. S. Dickie .. | 0·89 | 7 | 0·35 on 16th
Woodlands .. .. | J. Mehaffey .. | 5·35 | 18 | 0·70 on 17th
Centre Hill Station, Mossburn | R. Gray .. | 5·31 | 23 | 0·95 on 4th
Dipton .. .. | R. D. MacLachlan .. | 2·35 | 19 | 0·46 on 30th
Ratanui .. .. | J. Frazer .. | .. | .. | ..
Otatau .. .. | N. A. McLaren .. | .. | .. | ..
Nightcaps .. .. | J. Ritchie .. | 2·76 | 18 | 0·55 on 13th
Waikawa Valley .. | J. H. Buckingham .. | 4·42 | 23 | 0·74 on 16th

Chatham Islands (b) .. | A. Shand .. | 5·44 | 26 | 1·10 on 23rd
Stewart Island .. .. | W. Traill .. | 6·81 | 24 | 0·73 on 3rd

Late returns—
(a) October .. .. .. .. .. | 2·43 | 6 | 0·76 on 12th
(b) " .. .. .. .. .. | 3·52 | 18 | 0·72 on 8th

A. HAMILTON, Director.

GENERAL SUMMARY FOR NOVEMBER.

Meteorological observations show that the effects of solar radiation are usually manifest about a month after they are astronomically due: thus midwinter is experienced in New Zealand in July, and the month of November, instead of being, as reckoned by some, the first of summer, is really the last of spring. During the past month there has been some reason for impatience, yet recognition of this would often save disappointment and dissatisfaction with the climate. There is always a tendency to exaggerate with regard to the weather. One example of this is found in the habit of some persons who look into returns only to find extremes, which are often unreliable, and if they give any idea at all of the rainfall of a season or country it is generally misleading. In climatology the average rainfall and the general conditions prevailing are of supreme importance.

The rainfall of November, in spite of the number of rainy days in some districts, was generally light except in parts of Taranaki, Westland, and the extreme south. Until about the 23rd the winds were generally very boisterous or squally, and almost entirely from the westward—N.W. or S.W. After the 23rd, excepting for a N.E. gale with rain in the far north on the 29th, the weather was at its best in other parts of the country. A number of thunderstorms with lightning, and sometimes accompanied by hail, were reported, but not a sufficient number of observers make the records to show their progress or relation to other parts. These thunderstorms are probably accounted for by the changeableness of the weather and the meeting of warm and cold currents of air. The melting of the snow on the high ranges by rain and warm winds led to the rivers being at times exceptionally high; but springs are now running freely everywhere. The antarctic depression which arrived in the colony on the 12th was marked by a very low barometer. On that date it stood at 29·18 at Invercargill; and the barograph kindly taken by Lieut. K. Grieve, of H.M.S. “Psyche,” to the Campbell Islands gives a trace down to 28·8 on that day at Port Ross, in the Auckland Islands. It is expected that the meteorological station now established, and in charge of Mr. Gordon, at Campbell Island, will yield useful comparisons, and throw some light upon larger atmospheric movements. It is the most southern station in the Eastern Hemisphere. The barometer was lowest between the 18th and 20th.

The lambing season throughout the colony has been very successful, and the percentages marked are above the average. The cold snaps caused some small losses of lambs, and of sheep which had recently been relieved of heavy fleeces. The health of stock was, however, generally good, and the late shearing has not been altogether a disadvantage, considering the weather.

Vegetation responded wonderfully to the warm days in the second and last weeks of the month. Grass was plentiful, but rather innutritious, so that fattening and dairying operations were kept back. The weather on the whole was not favourable to orchards and horticulture: it was also somewhat prejudicial to poultry-farming, and the prospects of the season are retarded. In agriculture the earlier-sown crops have not come up to expectations, but more-recently-sown crops are now more satisfactory.

Mr. Cook, of Taihape, reports on the 2nd, at 3.55 a.m., a meteor travelling from W. to E., ending in a loud report like an explosion. From Halcombe Mr. McDonald writes, “On the evening of the 21st I saw a brilliant shower of meteors suddenly dart out of the constellation Aries. They came into view not many degrees below the planet Jupiter. They resembled the fragments of an exploding rocket. They disappeared almost immediately, but for an instant they presented an amazing sight.”

D. C. BATES, F.R.Met.Soc.

Meteorological Office, Wellington, 14th December, 1904.