584
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 15

SUMMARY FOR JANUARY, 1909.

The weather during the month of January was, on the whole, very unsettled and unseasonably cold. Rainfall was considerably above the average in nearly all stations in the South Island, and also somewhat above the average on the west coast of the North Island to the south of Auckland, but dry and cool elsewhere, especially in Hawke’s Bay, where the rainfall is about one-fifth of the average of previous years.

Westerly types of weather prevailed, the barometer being generally below the average and subject to constant fluctuations. The lowest pressure, 28·88, occurred at the Bluff on the 24th, and the highest, 30·31, at Cape Campbell on the 28th. From the 1st to the 9th low pressure prevailed south of New Plymouth and Castlepoint, accompanied by cold and showery weather, but with strong westerly winds and unsettled weather in the north. Anticyclonic conditions with fine weather prevailed in the south from the 9th to the 11th, but pressure remained lower in the north, with very unsettled weather. From the 12th to the 16th rain was very general, being experienced first in the south and spreading northwards. From the 18th to the 22nd the weather was mostly fine, with moderate northerly winds. A westerly area of very low pressure followed on the 23rd, and heavy rain was general over the South Island and also over south-western aspect of the North Island. Pressure recovered rapidly on the 25th and 26th, but was not accompanied by such intense weather conditions as might have been expected. From the 28th to the 30th the heaviest rains were generally experienced in the North Island, accompanied by only slight dips in the barometer.

Mr. H. B. Devereux, of Waihi, records that heavy rain and strong winds occurred on the 28th and 29th, and squally winds and heavy showers on the 30th and 31st. He also reports that he observed “some very remarkable sunsets on 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th, when the vegetation assumed some extraordinary tints. It would,” he says, “be interesting to know whether they were caused by an abnormal quantity of dust-particles in the higher atmosphere, the result of volcanic activity or magnetic disturbance.”

Mr. C. Jepson on the 30th notes: “9 a.m. raining steadily from the west; 10.45 cleared up, and sun came out in a clear deep-blue sky, and weather became very hot; at 3.20 p.m. the rumblings of thunder were heard in the east, and storm-clouds began to gather in that quarter, but I only observed one flash of lightning. The clouds assumed an inky blackness and approached with great rapidity. Rain fell in large drops and thickened till the whole place was aswim. The rain continued until dark and then moderated, but showers occurred through the night. This heavy rainfall did a lot of damage to turnip and grain crops.”

Immigration and Emigration Returns.

RETURN of Immigration to and Emigration from the Dominion of New Zealand during the Month of January, 1909, showing the Places from which Persons arrived and to which they departed, and the Ports of Arrival and Departure.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES FROM AND TO DIFFERENT PLACES.

• From British Columbia, 10; Bengal, 32; Singapore, 6; Cape Town, 26. † For British Columbia. ‡ From Friendly Islands, 11; Navigator Islands, 16; Society Islands, 34. § For Friendly Islands, 5; Navigator Islands, 5; Society Islands, 6. || From Teneriffe. ¶ For Monte Video.

ARRIVALS AT AND DEPARTURES FROM DIFFERENT NEW ZEALAND PORTS.*

CHINESE.—Arrivals—At Auckland, 10; Wellington, 1. Departures—From Wellington, 10; Auckland, 10.

• It is important to mention that, in the returns from which this table is made up, immigrants to the Dominion are all counted at the first port of arrival, and emigrants at the final port of departure.

E. J. von DADELSZEN,
Registrar-General.

Registrar-General’s Office,
Wellington, 22nd February, 1909.