Mar. 15.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 809

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, FEBRUARY, 1906.

The natural forces which control the weather are so numerous and of such complexity that they are not yet marshalled, if ever they can be, into such scientific order that the seasons may be definitely forecasted. Meteorological facts and statistics, on which comparisons of seasons and climates are based, are nevertheless of great usefulness, and have definite lessons to teach. The normals, or averages, of the chief meteorological factors in a country are obtained from the observations of a series of years, and any irregularity or departure from these climatic means is seen to have marked effects upon the productions and life of a country, and the variations caused are of immediate interest, and have to be taken into account in many branches of human economy.

The summer season, which in New Zealand is deemed to end with February, has this year been unsettled, and on the whole rather disappointing. The differences between the February of last year and this were striking: Last year, especially in most parts of the North Island, it was about the driest month on record, while in the past month the rainfall was over double the average in the Provinces of Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Marlborough, and in Canterbury to the north of Timaru. Over the greater part of Taranaki, and Auckland, excepting the Waikato, the rainfall was somewhat below the average of the month, while it was about the usual at most places in southern Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. Two cyclonic disturbances brought some heavy rains in the North Island in the first half of the month, and afterwards two westerly areas of low pressure were responsible for the heaviest rains in the South, and low temperatures everywhere on the 21st, 24th, and 25th. The frost on the morning of the 21st was very severely felt in many places. A frost on the night of the 9th, following rain in the day, is mentioned as having caused considerable damage inland at Waiotapu, near Rotorua. Though there were several fair summer days, the last two days of the month being particularly fine, the force of the westerly winds, especially on the west coasts, and of the south-east winds on the east coasts, was at times exceptionally strong and disagreeably persistent.

The heaviest rain recorded in the colony was at Wainuiomata, near Wellington, in a position exposed to the southerly winds, and a total of 15·40 in. of rain was registered in nine consecutive days. There were some exceptionally heavy falls inland in Wellington and Hawke’s Bay, and the rivers were flooded. Mr. G. C. Williams, of Mangakuri, mentions that the rainfall on the night of the 4th was the heaviest known for years, and raised the highest local flood since March, 1880. The bulk of the rain fell in two hours, and was much heavier in places distant from his rainfall-station. Judging from the flood and damage done he thought the fall must have been of a nature akin to a “waterspout” or “cloudburst.” The rains recorded in the North on the 9th were in many cases accompanied with thunder; at Rangiahua, Hokianga Harbour, 1·76 in. of rain was recorded between 9 and 10 a.m., and further south at Ruatangata Nursery, near Whangarei, at 1 p.m., 1·82 in. fell in about fifteen minutes. Thunderstorms were experienced in the South Island about the 19th. There was a considerable amount of fog at various times and places during the month.

Wet and boisterous weather interfered with harvest operations in many parts during the month, grass-seed crops suffering most. With regard to hay and crops, observers mention that the quantity is all right, but on account of the weather the same cannot be said everywhere of the quality. From Waimate, Mr. W. M. Hamilton writes, “The weather has not been at all favourable to maturing and ripening the crops. Harvesting has been delayed beyond the usual time by a fortnight or three weeks at least. The whole month was characterized with very uneven barometric pressures and numerous changes. In the last few days conditions looked more promising for drier and more settled weather. At the time of writing harvest operations were in full swing, and the crops in many cases, it was believed, turning out better than expected. They appeared to have come on fairly well in the last two or three weeks.”

The humidity of the atmosphere and the frequent showers have unfortunately been again favourable to the development of the potato-blight; but, though affected with the prevailing blight, in some places the crops have been exceptionally good in weight and quality. Although hardly within our province, it will, it is hoped, not be thought out of place to mention two or three suggestions from observers. In order to overcome the disease one advocates (1) late planting to avoid the changes of spring, and (2) giving the plants more room to develop their foliage and so to open it to the invigorating influences of the atmosphere. Another mentions that a nurseryman, growing a quantity of American Early Rose, Dakota Reds, and Up to Date potatoes, has had a fine crop, and saved them all, though adjoining him was a 40-acre crop of putrifying potato-tops. His remedy is to dust the tubers with lime after planting and before covering them with earth; then after they appear above the ground dust the haulms once a week with lime—in wet weather, twice a week, before and after the rain. His potatoes, it is now reported, have been dug six weeks, and have proved perfectly sound. Another method—difficult also with large quantities perhaps—is to store the potatoes, seed especially, in shallow boxes, in light, dry, and airy storerooms, where they can be examined occasionally.

The Agricultural Department state that the Bordeaux mixture, properly mixed and applied, has been found very efficacious as a preventive of the disease. The spray should be applied more particularly to the underside of the leaves. Most cases of reported failure have been found on investigation to be due to faulty mixture or application, and in some instances growers have waited until the disease has had a firm hold upon their crops before they sprayed.

Feed has been generally abundant, and turnip-crops are very promising. Fruit, it is reported, has been plentiful in the North and in parts of the Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay, and fair to moderate in most other places.

Illustrating the well-known tendency of clouds to follow the hills, one observer, who lives in an extensive valley, mentions that a big bush-fire was burning along the windward side, and though in the valley itself the air was bright and overhead the sky clear for miles, yet all around along the hillsides the smoke was very thick and clearly defined.

D. C. BATES, F.R.Met.Soc.
Meteorological Office, Wellington, 13th March, 1906.