APRIL 30.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1263

NEW ZEALAND METEOROLOGICAL RETURNS, MARCH, 1908.

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations, Wellington, for the month of March, 1908. Observations taken at 9 a.m.
Altitude of new observatory, 110 ft.

• Means, &c. † Monthly means previous years.

NOTE.—Weather very unsettled; barometer considerably below the average, and unsteady. Southerly winds on 19th and 20th give records for Wellington, though in the former more sheltered site the record of 960 miles on 22nd October, 1869, probably denoted a greater storm. Bright sunshine amounted to 117 hrs. 1 min.; 8 sunless days. Mean relative humidity, 76 per cent.; mean dew point, 52·2°; and mean elastic force of vapour, 0·391 in. Mean earth temperatures: 1 ft., 58·5°; 2 ft., 61·1°. Decrease during the month from 63° to 59° at 1 ft., and from 62° to 60° at 2 ft.

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE.
MEANS AND TOTALS FROM THE CHIEF STATIONS.
March, 1908.

SOUTH ISLAND.

SUMMARY FOR MARCH, 1908.

The longest and severest dry period ever recorded in New Zealand ended with the beginning of March. The rainfall returns for the month show very heavy falls at different times in all parts of the country, except southern Otago and Southland, where the total fall was about the average for the month in previous years. These heavy and warm rains on the heated soil produced a wonderful growth of grass, &c., which dispelled the worst fears of a shortage of feed for the coming winter. In places the drought has killed some of the trees and vegetation, and bush fires have also wrought much havoc; but it is now hoped and believed by many that on the whole and in the long-run this experience, most unexpected and grievous as it was at the time, will prove highly beneficial.

The weather conditions during March were very unsettled; cyclonic disturbances and westerly areas of low pressure, though mild in character, frequently succeeded each other, and the barometric pressure was generally below the average, as well as unsteady.

A small westerly depression brought rains on the west coasts of both Islands at the beginning of the month. A cyclonic movement on the 8th brought very heavy rains in the far north, and an extensive westerly depression, which was at its lowest on the 11th, caused general rains over the Dominion. A small anticyclone followed, with fine bright and warm days, but cold nights, with frosts in the high country on the 15th, 16th, and 17th. A westerly depression on the 17th brought a fall of 0·9 in. in thirty-six hours at the Bluff, followed by a quick recovery, and brought some rain over the South. On the 20th a cyclone made its appearance off East Cape, and brought rains to all the eastern coastal stations. The falls occasioned by this disturbance were remarkably heavy in Hawke's Bay. Cyclonic conditions prevailed in the North Island until the 28th; but the decrease in pressure in the South was caused by a westerly depression. The former brought very wet weather, especially on the east coast of the North Island, and the latter brought rain to all the western coast on the 30th and 31st. The mountain-stations at Egmont and Mount Cook record 30·08 in. and 29·51 in. respectively. A most notable difference is seen between the falls recorded on the western and northern watersheds of Wellington: at Wainuiomata, which is exposed to southerly winds, between the 18th and 26th the fall amounted to 17·37 in., while at Karori, during the same period, the fall was 3·70 in., and at the Wellington Observatory 4·15 in.

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