Aug. 9.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2441

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the month of May, 1928. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 55·3°; and at 3 ft., 57·8°. Number of rain days, 17.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force 8 or more). Forces 4 to 7. Calm.

NOTE.--On the whole a mild month, with rainfall and cloudiness at 9 a.m. both somewhat above the average. The total bright sunshine was 155·1 hours (51 per cent. of the possible), and four sunless days. Hail fell on the 24th; lightning was seen on the 7th, 15th, and 31st; and thunder was heard on the 31st. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 48°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·334 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 1928.

The month has been on the whole a wet and rather stormy one. The season is still characterized by a relative absence of winds. When strong winds have blown, they have frequently been along the length of the Islands so that many parts, notably the Cook Strait region, have escaped their severity. They were felt mainly in the northern parts of the Auckland Province, the Foveaux Strait region and the surrounding ocean waters. Rainfall was above the average over almost the whole of the North Island. In the South Island more varied conditions prevailed, most of the western districts having more, and most of the eastern districts less, than the average.

Temperatures have remained rather mild, scarcely any frost being experienced over the greater part of the North Island, where grass has continued to grow luxuriantly. In the South Island, however, winter weather was experienced after the first week, and frosts were fairly frequent. These were compensated for by many bright and sunny days. Feed is abundant almost everywhere.

The month opened with an intense anticyclone centred to the west of Westport. The weather was stormy, with gales in many places. Very heavy rain was recorded in the central provinces.

Unsettled conditions continued over the whole of the first week. Westerly gales, due to depressions of a westerly type, blew on the 4th and 5th. On the 6th a cyclone appeared to the south of Norfolk Island and subsequently developed two centres, one of which passed through Cook Strait and the other north of Cape Maria Van Diemen. This was an active disturbance. Strong northerly gales were experienced during its approach and south-westerlies after its passage. It was followed, also, by a decided fall of temperature, which practically marked the commencement of winter for the South Island. Frosts were frequent in Canterbury and Otago from then onwards, and the mountain tops were covered with snow.

Another vigorous cyclone crossed the South Island on the 14th and brought heavy rain, especially to the North Island. High floods caused damage in Kaitaia and the surrounding districts. A fourth cyclone crossed the North Island on the 18th, and was followed by southerly gales which covered an extensive area over and on all sides of the Dominion. Seas were rough for several days in the surrounding ocean waters.

During the passage of an anticyclone over the southern portion of the Dominion on the 24th and 25th, barometers rose as high as 30·7 in. The only other anticyclone of any intensity was one which covered New Zealand on the 10th.

The tendency for disturbances to assume the cyclonic form was maintained until the end of the month. Further examples of this type of storm controlled our weather on the 26th and the 29th.

EDWARD KIDSON, Director.