80
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 4

Rainfall for December, 1904—continued.

SOUTH ISLAND—continued.

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

Waimate .. .. | W. M. Hamilton .. | 4·08 | 14 | 0·92 on 14th
Geraldine .. .. | E. F. Temple .. | 3·84 | 10 | 1·29 on 14th
Orari Gorge (Woodbury) .. | Mrs. B. E. H. Tripp .. | 5·37 | 13 | 1·67 on 14th
Windsor Park (Oamaru) .. | W. Menlove .. | 3·84 | 16 | 0·50 on 11th
Maheno (Oamaru) .. | R. J. Hendrie .. | .. | .. | ..
Kauroo Hill, Maheno .. | C. de S. Teschemaker .. | 1·83 | 13 | 0·36 on 28th

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

Otekaike (Oamaru) .. | John Tait .. | 3·38 | 15 | 0·70 on 28th
Queenstown .. .. | A. H. Hiddlestone .. | 2·58 | 11 | 0·70 on 22nd
St. Bathan’s .. .. | J. Ewing .. | .. | .. | ..
Gladbrook St’n, Middlemarch | F. R. Jeffreys .. | 4·67 | 16 | 0·96 on 13th
Roxburgh .. .. | Dr. W. J. Mullin .. | 3·135 | 13 | 0·715 on 13th
Kokonga .. .. | R. W. Glendinning .. | 3·85 | 20 | 0·66 on 4th
Tarras .. .. | T. McWhirter .. | 2·47 | 9 | 0·87 on 13th
Orokonui Home, Waitati .. | Dr. Gault .. | 4·77 | 19 | 1·05 on 4th
Caversham .. .. | G. M. Burlinson .. | .. | .. | ..
Blackmount (Clifden) .. | Mrs. R. McKenzie .. | 3·635 | 21 | 0·975 on 22nd
Ranfurly (Eweburn) .. | A. W. Roberts .. | 2·62 | 15 | 0·61 on 13th
Tapanui .. .. | R. G. Robinson .. | 5·26 | 13 | 1·35 on 29th
Balclutha .. .. | J. W. Brame .. | 3·73 | 10 | 1·01 on 10th
Galloway (Alexandra South) .. | A. Gunn .. | .. | .. | ..
Clyde .. .. | J. S. Dickie .. | 1·73 | 6 | 0·65 on 13th
Woodlands .. .. | J. Mehaffey .. | 3·99 | 18 | 0·50 on 4th
Waimahaka, Toi Toi Estate .. | W. R. Baird .. | 6·080 | 24 | 0·86 on 17th
Centre Hill Station, Mossburn | R. Gray .. | 4·94 | 21 | 0·76 on 22nd
Dipton .. .. | R. D. MacLachlan .. | 2·57 | 15 | 0·58 on 30th
Ratanui .. .. | J. Frazer .. | .. | .. | ..
Otautau (a) .. .. | N. A. McLaren .. | 4·22 | 19 | 0·58 on 31st
Nightcaps .. .. | J. Ritchie .. | 2·41 | 14 | 0·34 on 22nd and 28th
Waikawa Valley .. | J. H. Buckingham .. | 6·29 | 20 | 1·04 on 10th

Chatham Islands .. | A. Shand .. | .. | .. | ..
Stewart Island .. | W. Traill .. | 6·40 | 23 | 0·98 on 9th

Late returns—
(a) November .. .. .. .. | 5·82 | 20 | 1·02 on 13th

A. HAMILTON, Director.

GENERAL SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER, 1904.

The weather of December was, on the whole, decidedly unseasonable; but, while the cloudiness of the atmosphere prevented solar heat from coming direct to the earth, it also protected the soil, especially at night, as with a blanket, from undue loss of accumulated heat, keeping it almost continuously above 42° Fahr., which is generally regarded as the temperature above which active growth takes place. The maximum-solar-radiation thermometer in vacuo, influenced only by the sun’s rays, was very much below the monthly mean, but the terrestrial-radiation thermometer gives a mean about the usual. Thus, notwithstanding other drawbacks, grain-crops have made unmistakable progress, and are fairly promising. The chief cause of lament, however, has been that the unsettled conditions of the atmosphere prevented not only the earlier sowing of cereals, but later on also of turnips, &c. Orchards and gardens which previously suffered damage have not recovered; vegetables are by no means plentiful; the yield of fruit generally is small and backward, and stone-fruits are reported as very scarce. Early-sown potatoes suffered very much, and in some parts rotted in the ground, but fruit-trees are almost free from disease. Though perhaps not so nutritious as the dairy-farmer would desire, feed has been plentiful in most parts; and the stock, which were in good heart after a mild winter, did well through a trying spring, and are this summer in good condition. In agriculture, the showers, which were general until after the 23rd, made the soil in a more friable condition than it would have been on account of the strong, drying winds following the heavy rains of spring. Tillage went on in some parts, however, under difficulties. Shearing progressed, but was much hindered, and haymaking greatly delayed, by the rough weather.

On the 5th and 6th of the month the weather was very wintry throughout the country. Thunderstorms were prevalent in the North, hail was heavy in many parts of both Islands, and the high lands of the South were covered with snow. Electrical conditions culminated in thunderstorms in various parts also between the 7th and 16th, and thunder and lightning were also recorded at New Plymouth and Dunedin on the 21st, and at Hunterville on the 29th and 30th.

Conditions were severe in parts between the 13th and 16th, and heavy hail and snow fell on the ranges of Marlborough, and elsewhere on the 14th. A warm cloudy atmosphere with a north-west wind about the 19th caused the snow to melt on the mountains, and a record flood was noted at Otaki on the 21st.

Delightful weather was experienced generally just before Christmas, but stormy conditions again succeeded. This spell of warm bright weather produced a prolific brood of insect-life, flies and mosquitoes swarming immediately.

In the returns the light rainfall recorded at 9 a.m. on the 1st instant was credited to the previous day according to the new rule.

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

Meteorological Office, Wellington, 14th January, 1905.