APRIL 20.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 995

New Zealand Rainfall for March, 1905—continued.

SOUTH ISLAND—continued.

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

Orari Estate, Orari .. | G. A. M. Macdonald .. | 1·79 | 16 | 0·99 on 1st
Lambrock, Fairlie .. | D. H. Gillingham .. | 1·71 | 12 | 0·48 on 17th
Pleasant Point .. | J. Bishop .. | 1·35 | 9 | 0·78 on 1st
Timaru Reservoir .. | J. Courtney .. | 1·46 | 7 | 0·78 on 1st
Timaru .. | R. Ferguson .. | 1·355 | 10 | 0·82 on 1st
Waimate .. | W. M. Hamilton .. | 1·52 | 15 | 0·32 on 2nd and 15th
Hermitage, Mount Cook .. | D. McDonald .. | 5·46 | 8 | 2·25 on 30th
Otekaike .. | J. Tait .. | 0·42 | 6 | 0·16 on 1st
Windsor Park, Oamaru .. | W. Menlove .. | .. | .. | ..
Kauroo Hill, Maheno .. | C. de S. Teschemaker .. | 1·66 | 7 | 0·32 on 13th, 14th, and 26th
Orokonui Home, Waitati .. | Dr. D. Gault .. | .. | .. | ..

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

Eweburn Nursery, Ranfurly .. | A. W. Roberts .. | 0·45 | 5 | 0·28 on 5th
Kokonga .. | R. W. Glendinning .. | 0·45 | 6 | 0·20 on 5th
Caversham .. | G. M. Burlinson .. | 1·40 | 14 | 0·50 on 6th
Gladbrook St’n, Middlemarch | A. Mackenzie .. | 0·97 | 4 | 0·50 on 6th
St. Bathan’s .. | J. Ewing .. | .. | .. | ..
Tarras .. | T. McWhirter .. | 0·77 | 4 | 0·31 on 5th
Queenstown .. | A. H. Hiddlestone .. | 1·48 | 8 | 0·39 on 5th
Galloway, Alexandra South .. | A. Gunn.. .. | 1·12 | 5 | 0·76 on 6th
Clyde .. | J. S. Dickie .. | 0·47 | 4 | 0·17 on 6th
Roxburgh .. | Dr. J. R. Gilmour .. | 0·66 | 5 | 0·405 on 6th and 12th
Balclutha .. | J. W. Brame .. | 1·22 | 4 | 0·59 on 5th
Tapanui Nursery .. | R. G. Robinson .. | 1·99 | 6 | 0·94 on 5th
Waikawa Valley .. | J. H. Buckingham .. | 2·95 | 12 | 0·78 on 5th
Toi Toi Estate, Waimahaka .. | W. R. Baird .. | 2·55 | 18 | 0·60 on 20th
Woodlands .. | J. Mehaffey .. | .. | .. | ..
Centre Hill Station, Mossburn(a) | R. Gray .. | 3·37 | 11 | 1·05 on 6th
Dipton .. | R. D. MacLachlan .. | 1·97 | 9 | 0·82 on 5th
Birchwood, Nightcaps .. | Mrs. R. McKenzie .. | 2·40 | 13 | 0·56 on 5th
Nightcaps .. | James Ritchie .. | 1·96 | 11 | 0·605 on 5th
Otatau .. | N. A. McLaren .. | .. | .. | ..

(I.) ISLANDS.

Chatham Islands(b) .. | A. Shand .. | .. | .. | ..
Stewart Island .. | W. Traill .. | 5·39 | 23 | 1·15 on 27th

Late returns—

(a) { January .. .. .. .. .. 6·45 19 1·88 on 18th
{ February .. .. .. .. .. 1·42 11 0·38 on 27th
(b) " .. .. .. .. .. 1·45 8 0·80 on 27th

A. HAMILTON, Director.

GENERAL SUMMARY FOR MARCH, 1905.

THE past month ends a most exceptional season for the agriculturists of New Zealand. After a wet and prolonged spring summer brought warm, calm, and somewhat humid weather, during which there were only light rains. These were mostly partial, and some districts suffered from the want of regular rainfall. This was more severely felt in the west and south-west of the North Island, where dairying is of first importance. The turnip-crops in these parts fared badly through lack of moisture. The dry weather experienced was, however, excellent for harvesting, and for cereals the season was much more successful than anticipated. In the returns it is noted that, though the fall was unusually small for the month, yet it came at many of the stations on a considerable number of days. Rain fell at three different times—the beginning, middle, and end of March. On the 1st and 2nd of the month electrical conditions were widely manifested in the North Island, and, though thunderstorms were not noted in the South, the weather was more broken, especially in Canterbury. The thunderstorm on the 2nd apparently travelled in a south-easterly direction with considerable velocity, and was accompanied by heavy showers and some hail.

The rain in the middle of the month was mostly light and mild, and fell on the east coasts of both Islands. At the end of the month the rain was rather heavier, more general, and accompanied by high winds, but no thunder was recorded. Though precipitation was slight, the humidity of the atmosphere was evident in marked cloudiness, frequent “mugginess,” and a low mean maximum temperature, while the mean minimum was higher than usual. This steadiness of temperature and humidity undoubtedly accounted for the extensive development of the germ of the fungoid growth of the potato-disease (Phytophthora infestans). Some observers attributed it to the dryness, while others turned back to the wet season, and some regarded the thundery weather noted in former returns as the primary cause of the outbreak. It may be well, however, to point to the experience with a view to timely and preventive measures should a similar season recur in the future. The close connection of the weather with cropping has, by the way, been shown recently in a remarkable manner by the British Meteorological Office. It is there found that, “with certain exceptions, every inch of autumn rainfall involves a diminution of the yield of wheat for the following year by a bushel and a quarter per acre.”

In this country April practically commences the agricultural year; and attention is directed to this fact in the hope that, with the next harvest as an end in view, the observers will endeavour more generally and constantly to correlate the weather with its effects, thus showing its influence upon vegetation, &c. The meteorological returns would then record the farmer’s progress at the times of ploughing and sowing, and indicate changes in the growth, ripening, and harvesting of his crops. All observers should at least add up the monthly rainfalls, and also keep duplicate copies in their books. Though the record of the weather, winds, &c., may seem of trifling use at the time, and even common-place to the observer himself, yet the cumulative value of such records may be very great indeed, and of much practical use to any station, town, or district when records for a number of years are available. It is, moreover, very desirable for the fuller exposition of the climate of New Zealand.

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

Meteorological Office, Colonial Museum, Wellington, 14th April, 1905.