May 17.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1307

METEOROLOGICAL REPORT FOR APRIL, 1906.

THE season of autumn is usually associated with the most agreeable weather of the year, and though in the middle of April the atmospheric conditions were all that could be desired and several places also recorded fine weather during the month, yet the same cannot, unfortunately, be said to be the general experience of the colony. The local variations during April were more striking than usual, and are mostly to be accounted for by local considerations. These differences are due to the natural conformation of the country in relation to aspects, altitudes, proximity of mountains, &c. Thus, in one place a north-west wind will almost invariably bring rain, but in another locality a nor’-wester is proverbially dry.

In the North Island the number of rainy days was generally much above the average, but in many places, especially in parts near the coast, the rainfall was, owing to the showers being light, considerably below the normal.

In the South Island the rains were generally heavy about the 20th, and heavy rains occurred three days earlier in Tasmania, from whence the storm came. The greatest falls were recorded in some places a week later.

The early part of the month was associated with very unsettled conditions which hardly admit of generalisation. The last week of the month is memorable for a storm of very wide extent. The barometer fell over an inch in the South, and there was almost the same amount of difference between the extreme north and south of the colony on the 27th, when a fierce westerly gale raged in many places. The remarkable feature in connection with this storm during the last week of April was the rising of the gales towards midnight, while the winds were not nearly so strong in the daytime. They were the worst gales experienced for a long time.

An interesting record is furnished by Mr. H. Vickerman, of the Public Works Department, who has charge of rain-gauges at Arthur’s Pass Meteorological Station, 3,020 ft., and at Otira, 1,430 ft. This latter, at first sight, gives a greater rainfall, showing that the line of maximum fall at this time of the year is between these altitudes. A Snowden 8 in. rain-gauge is used at the top of the Pass, and a Glaisner 8 in. rain-gauge at the bottom, but a self-recording rain-gauge to melt snow will shortly be in use at the highest station. For purposes of comparison the following records from the 26th to 30th April from our highest stations in the South Island will be of interest:—

Ft. 26th. 27th. 28th. 29th. 30th. Total, 5 days.
Arthur’s Pass .. .. 3,020 .. 246 743 478 426 40 19·33 points.
Otira .. .. 1,430 .. 263 796 512 456 43 20·70 "
Hermitage, Mount Cook.. 2,510 .. 15 410 265 230 96 10·16 "
Bealey.. .. 2,140 .. 120 338 230 270 No record.

The lateness and dulness of the summer in New Zealand contrasts strangely with the reports from the experience this year in the southern tropics. There it has been unusually hot and dry, with few storms. The greater evaporation which this shows will account for the increased cloudiness and humidity experienced in these higher latitudes.

D. C. BATES.

Meteorological Office, 15th May, 1906,
Wellington.

Notice by the Public Trustee under “The Unclaimed Lands Act, 1894.”

To the owner or owners of a parcel of land containing 50 acres, more or less, being Allotment 175, Parish of Mangapiko, in the Provincial District of Auckland. The grantee is one Thomas Roberts, described as a private in the 2nd Regiment of Waikato Militia, who cannot be traced.

WHEREAS the Public Trustee has instituted inquiries, and has not thereby ascertained who the owner or owners of the above-described land is or are, and believes that such owner is, or owners are, not in the colony:

Now, this notice calls upon such owner or owners, within six months of the date of the publication of this notice in this Gazette, to establish to the satisfaction of the Public Trustee his or their title to the land specified in this notice; and, if such owner does or owners do not, within the time limited, so establish his or their title, the Public Trustee will exercise the powers and authorities granted to him in and by “The Unclaimed Lands Act, 1894.”

Dated this 9th day of May, 1906.

A. A. K. DUNCAN
Deputy Public Trustee.

Notice published pursuant to the Provisions of Section 15 of “The Public Trust Office Consolidation Act, 1894.”

Public Trust Office,
Wellington, 15th May, 1906.

NOTICE is hereby given that, no person having taken out administration, the Public Trustee has filed in the office of the Supreme Court at Wellington an election to administer the several intestate estates of the deceased persons whose names, residences, and occupations, so far as known, are hereunder respectively set forth, their gross properties being estimated not to exceed £250 in each case.

Louisa or Lucy Horton, otherwise Lucy Sarah Paine, late of Tikokino, in the Provincial District of Hawke’s Bay, married woman. Filed on the 3rd day of May, 1906.

John Golding, late of Westport, in the Provincial District of Nelson, settler. Filed on the 10th day of May, 1906.

Michael McAlpine, late of Table Hill, in the Provincial District of Otago, farmer. Filed on the 10th day of May, 1906.

James Henry Moyles, late of Naseby, in the Provincial District of Otago, labourer. Filed on the 10th day of May, 1906.

James Murphy, late of Wellington, in the Provincial District of Wellington, labourer. Filed on the 10th day of May, 1906.

William Duke Fenwick, late of Hornby, in the Provincial District of Canterbury, farmer. Filed on the 10th day of May, 1906.

Leonard Stafford Clarke, late of Christchurch, in the Provincial District of Canterbury, City Council employee. Filed on the 10th day of May, 1906.

J. W. POYNTON,
Public Trustee.