APRIL 8.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 993

METEOROLOGICAL SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY, 1909.

Excepting on the south-eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand, the rainfall was everywhere much below the average, and the weather may be summed up as hot and dry. This, following upon two unseasonably damp and cold months, was not only generally agreeable, but also highly beneficial to the interests of the farmer and grazier, though it was said rain was much required in some parts.

During the greater part of the month anticylonic pressure held sway everywhere, and, though mild southerlies prevailed, the winds were generally light and variable. With such conditions land and sea breezes are usually experienced with day and night—from sea to land during the day, and from land to sea during the night—but Mr. T. R. Ryan, who resides at the Mountain House, Mount Egmont (3,140 ft. in altitude), remarked that the wind followed the sun around, which he regards as a sure sign of fine weather on the mountain.

The outstanding feature in a meteorological record was the storm in which the s.s. “Penguin” was unfortunately wrecked near Cape Terawhiti on Friday night, 12th February. A cyclonic disturbance of unusual magnitude made its appearance off East Cape, and impinged upon an anticyclonic area then developing over the South Island. A hard S.E. gale swept up the east coast and through Cook Strait, with thick weather as far as Taranaki. The mingling of the warm vapour-laden atmosphere of the cyclone with the cooler anticyclonic breezes caused the rain to come on as a thick mist, which developed into a continuous and cold rain, which was particularly heavy in the Hawke’s Bay District. The following records show this intensity in points (100 = 1 in.) :—

At Waituna West, near Feilding, Mr. J. Guylee remarked that “February was a beautiful summer month—in fact, the first summerlike one in the season. Rainfall very light; the grass, &c., kept green, although a change was noticeable. The creeks were drying up rapidly, probably owing to the drying winds earlier in the season preventing any soakage into the ground when the rainfall was heavier.”

Mr. James Pearce, of Pahautanui, near Wellington, noticed that moss and slime in the streams had more appearance of growth than at any time in the previous summer.

At Otira, on the west coast of the South Island, Mr. T. E. White observed: “The weather during February has been settled and very hot. It has had its effect on the district, as most of the smaller streams are dry, and larger rivers are dry for considerable distances. As far as our records show it has been the driest month experienced here.”

The weather was very hot and dry in Central Otago, only one light rainfall being experienced in most parts of that district.

At Bushy Park, near Palmerston South, Mrs. McKenzie noted on 1st March: “Fine harvest month. Most of the crops are down, though some fields are still standing. Stacks are appearing, and carting will soon be general.”

Our Gore observer, Captain A. A. Scott, remarked: “A very fine month. Feed plentiful, and splendid harvest weather.”

D. C. BATES.

Meteorological Office, Wellington.