Sept. 14.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2249

New Zealand Rainfall for August, 1905—continued.

SOUTH ISLAND—continued.

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

Eweburn Nursery, Ranfurly .. | A. W. Roberts .. | 38 | 6 | 14 on 25th
Kokonga .. | R. W. Glendinning | 62 | 7 | 22 on 25th
Caversham .. | F. N. Carryatt | 36 | 4 | 11 on 25th
Gladbrook St’n, Middlemarch | A. Mackenzie .. | .. | .. | ..
Tarras .. | R. K. Smith .. | .. | .. | ..
Queenstown .. | A. H. Hiddlestone | 99 | 6 | 26 on 21st
Galloway, Alexandra South .. | A. Gunn.. | 44 | 8 | 25 on 31st
Clyde .. | J. S. Dickie .. | 30 | 3 | 13 on 10th
Roxburgh .. | Dr. J. R. Gilmour | 109 | 8 | 38 on 31st
Balclutha .. | J. W. Brame .. | 107 | 6 | 35 on 22nd
Tapanui Nursery .. | R. G. Robinson .. | 190 | 6 | 57 on 31st
Waikawa Valley .. | J. H. Buckingham | 207 | 8 | 64 on 22nd
Toi Toi Estate, Waimahaka .. | W. R. Baird .. | 109 | 11 | 36 on 23rd
Centre Hill Station, Mossburn.. | R. Gray .. | 200 | 11 | 60 on 22nd
Dipton .. | R. D. MacLachlan | 102 | 7 | 43 on 31st
Birchwood, Nightcaps .. | Mrs. R. McKenzie | 154 | 14 | 37 on 22nd
Nightcaps .. | James Ritchie .. | 138 | 10 | 41 on 22nd
Otautau .. | N. A. McLaren .. | 189 | 11 | 40 on 22nd
Riverton .. | J. M. Geary .. | 260 | 14 | 81 on 22nd
Te Tua .. | H. A. Archdall .. | 259 | 18 | 55 on 22nd

(I.) ISLANDS.

Chatham Islands .. | A. Shand .. | .. | .. | ..
Stewart Island .. | W. Traill .. | 222 | 15 | 37 on 24th

A. HAMILTON, Director.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORT FOR AUGUST, 1905.

During the past winter the chief feature in the meteorological records has been a marked inequality in the rainfall of different districts. In Otago and Southland the weather was on the whole remarkably dry and mild, while in Hawke’s Bay, from the East Cape southwards to Cape Turnagain, the rain has been exceptionally heavy—many stations presenting for the four months a total almost equal to the average annual rainfall. In the Taranaki and Wellington districts the weather has been genial and dry. In Canterbury and Nelson the conditions were more humid and mild, and until August agricultural operations were hindered by the moisture in the soil.

In August barometric pressure was free from great extremes. An area of low pressure from the 22nd to the 23rd accounted for the most general rains; and the rise of the barometer afterwards, for the approaching anticyclone, produced cold showers and a little hail and snow. The high pressure between the 23rd and 29th gave bright days but very cold nights. Three areas of low pressure, whose centres passed considerably north of the Bay of Plenty, affected the North Island. One between the 2nd and 4th, and the other between the 15th and 18th, accounted for the heaviest rains. Thus n the zone of Hawke’s Bay the N.E. wind first came laden with tropical vapour, then the wind shifted to the east, and meeting a cold southerly air the vapour condensed in a steady S.E. wind and rain, which gradually changed to a S.W. wind and showers until the whole disturbance was past. The laws which govern the paths of these cyclonic disturbances are not known, but is the question above all others before the eyes of the meteorologists of the world.

The rainfall in the South Island during August was everywhere below the average, and also in Taranaki and Wellington. One matter calling for note is the extremely low rainfall at the Summit in the Rimutakas (height 1,144 ft.), there the average rainfall for sixteen years previous has been 834 points on eighteen days, last month it was only 55 points on eight days. At Featherston (elevation 160 ft.), near it, on the Wairarapa Plains, one is also most surprised to find in the return only two days with rain, totalling 45 points (24 points on the 5th and 21 on the 10th), against a record of fifteen years averaging 401 points on twelve days for the month of August.

With the exception of high northerly winds in the North on the 1st and 2nd and about Cook Strait on the 14th, the winds were generally moderate throughout the colony.

The weather during the past month in the drier parts, as shown by the records, was most favourable to agriculture. Mr. J. Guylee, of Waituna West, near Feilding, speaks of August as a very fine month: “Although there were a number of wet days the rainfall was not heavy at any time, and most of it fell during the night and early morning. Owing to the mildness of the weather the growth of grass, &c., was considerable till towards the end of the month, when four severe frosts caused a decided check. The weeping willows were quite green at the beginning of the month. The more sheltered of the old leaves had not fallen when the new ones arrived. If they continue as at present, a few years will see them as evergreens, for it is not so long ago that there was quite a month or so between the fall of the old and the shooting of the new leaves.” Mr. L. J. Adams, Ruatangata Nursery, Kamo, remarks: “Weeping willows broke bud about the 15th, and are now in full glory of young foliage; also the native tree Hoheria populnea, variety vulgaris. This tree is interesting, as it is probably the only really deciduous New Zealand tree. The bright colour of its young foliage along river-banks, as contrasted with the heavy, dull hue of other native bush, is most striking. The karaka (Corynocarpus laevigata), rewa (Knightia excelsa), and totara (Podocarpus) are now springing into flower. I believe the karaka to be one of the first both to flower and perfect its fruits under all conditions wherever it is found in New Zealand.”

The warm weather between the 12th and 18th brought plum-trees, peaches, &c., into blossom all over the North Island. This warm weather was experienced generally around the coasts, but inland in Southland growth was kept back by the cold at night; Mrs. R. McKenzie, at Birchwood, Nightcaps, remarking that “frosts were prevalent from 19th May to 31st August. Until this latter date there was scarcely any sign of spring. In sheltered places new grass showed a little, but the daffodils, which last year at Blackmount were in full flower on the first week of the month, were this year (at the close of August) only beginning to push up their buds.”

The milder winter in the North has allowed an increase of insect-life and fungoid growth and blights. Some have mentioned an increase in the grass-grub (Odontria zealandica), which eats the roots of the grass. To destroy these, by the way, Mr. T. W. Kirk, the Government Biologist, recommends those who have grass-fields affected in this way, above all, to encourage starlings, and, if possible, to give the land a dressing of common salt. At Waihi it was noticed that thrushes were nesting, and in the early part of the month humble-bees made an appearance, and are there now more numerous than in past years. Several reports mention the lambing as very satisfactory, and Mr. K. W. Dalrymple, of Waitatapia, Bull’s, Rangitikei, remarks: “Lambs are doing splendidly, and should this weather continue fat lambs will be coming in nearly a month earlier than usual.”

Observers mostly report stock as healthy, and in fairly good condition; but in some parts cattle seem to have had a rather hard time, on which account pastoralists have had trying conditions in the far North, but in other parts, where the weather was not so wet and dull, although there was an abundance of feed from the growth of last autumn, they have not wintered as well as expected. Meteors have been reported as falling and causing alarming noises at two stations, and a brilliant display of the aurora australis was witnessed over Southland on the night of 2nd August.

Meteorological Office, Colonial Museum, 12th September, 1905. D. C. BATES, F.R.Met.S.