2896
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 109

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

THE RAINFALL of November amounted to a little above the average in most parts of New Zealand, and although the showers were generally light, yet heavy rains fell at nearly all the stations on one or two days of the month, and their distribution had marked differences in time.

In the NORTH ISLAND the heaviest rains were—
(1.) On the 1st and 2nd in the north and west.
(2.) On the 9th on the East Coast, and but little fell on the eastern side of the Kaimanawa Ranges after that date.
(3.) On the 25th and 26th precipitation was heavy over the Taranaki and Wellington Districts.

In the SOUTH ISLAND—
(4.) Heavy rain fell in the northern parts on the 1st and 2nd, but it was afterwards very dry in Marlborough.
(5.) On the 8th there was a severe thunderstorm, accompanied with hail in parts over South Canterbury; and
(6.) Rain fell heavily in Southland on the 15th and 23rd.

Local thunderstorms occurred during the month in many parts, and these records need fuller examination; more observations are also required.

The weather during the month was generally dull. For the first ten or twelve days it was very showery. A few remarkably sunny days occurred in the middle of the month, but during the last fortnight rough westerly winds prevailed. Barometric pressure was below the mean for the month, and it was especially so in the South. Between the 17th and the 30th three distinct areas of low pressure passed over the South Island, while the barometer was fairly high in the North. These changes and the steepness of the barometric gradients accounted for the heavy gales which occurred at this time.

THE TEMPERATURE of the air was higher than it was in the corresponding month last year, but did not come up to what is expected in the last month of spring in New Zealand. The cloudiness of the atmosphere, acting as a blanket, prevented the radiation of heat from the ground, and thus dews were not formed, and only one particularly sharp frost was noted in the plains of South Canterbury, on the morning of the 24th.

THE EFFECTS of the weather were evident in vegetation, &c. Although growth was marked and feed abundant, yet lack of sunshine and the high winds everywhere kept things in a backward state. The drying winds quickly evaporated the water on the surface of the soil, so that it became dry and hard. Garden pests were destroyed, rank growth stopped, and, it is believed, the potato-disease was checked by the same means. Hay-crops are reported fair, and oats looking well. Orchards and gardens, though damaged by the winds, are promising, but stone fruits for some reason have not set as well as expected, and in some parts the yields will be small. Extremes being absent, the lambing was very successful. The shearing is late on account of the weather, but it is mentioned by observers that though the wool is dry and harsh, yet it is better grown than last year. The high winds did much damage to trees in parts, and, for the want of their shelter, to fields, especially on low sandy coasts, good grass land being ruined with sand-drifts. One observer mentions that a tremendous gale of wind on the night of the 17th uprooted or broke down about fifty trees near the house. These were chiefly Pinus insignis and gum-trees, and it was noteworthy that spruces and other trees stood the test much better, only three spruces losing their tops. The willow-trees were also sadly stripped of their leaves, and during the night of the 23rd were lashing the ground. Some destruction was caused in places by the gales, but chiefly in localities where there were no trees to act as windbreaks.

NEW PLYMOUTH Meteorological Observatory has been in existence from May, 1852, and but two breaks have occurred in the continuity of the records: the instruments were destroyed in the Maori war in 1860, and no observations were taken for five months, and also between 1881 and 1893 there were no records. Through the former site being no longer available, Mr. G. W. Palmer, who has for six years well discharged the office of meteorological observer, has resigned, and it is to be hoped that his successor will soon be appointed. Observations of rainfall and temperature, though of value to the colony at large, are most important to each locality. Local government bodies should be primarily interested in questions relating to the climatic changes, for only by taking into account particular information re rainfall, &c., can engineers, builders, and others apply the results of experience gained in other parts of the world to their own problems of drainage, building, &c. The Government is providing a number of self-recording rain-gauges for obtaining particulars as to the rate of rainfall, and it is expected that local bodies will avail themselves of the opportunity of securing reliable information from the use of these instruments.

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

Meteorological Office, Wellington, 12th December, 1905.