Oct. 11.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2973

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of August, 1928. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft. 47·4°; and at 3 ft. 49·1°. Number of rain days, 16.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force 8 or more). Forces 4 to 7. Calm. N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W.
1 | 18 | 3 | 5½ | 1½ | 1 | 4½ | 5½ | 2 | ½ | 7½

NOTE.—An unsettled and wet month, with precipitation at Karori Reservoir, near Kelburn, 175 per cent. above the mean of previous years. Total bright sunshine, 138 hours, 42 per cent. of the possible, and six sunless days. Hail fell on the 2nd and 30th, fog was in evidence on three mornings, and frost was recorded on the grass on the 26th. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 41·7°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·263 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 1928.

August was, on the whole, a satisfactory month as regards rainfall, especially in view of the distribution during the preceding months. In most of the Auckland Province, where there was little need for it, the rain was below normal. In Nelson and parts of Otago and Southland, too, there was a deficiency, and good rains will be wanted soon in these districts, especially the first, if the season is to commence well. Elsewhere, registrations were mainly above the average, and crops and pastures will benefit greatly.

Most districts experienced remarkably uniform temperatures during the month, and the absence of extreme cold gave an effect of mildness even where the mean temperature was below the average. Growth has, on the whole, been good, and although there is still a slight shortage of feed in some of the parts which experienced a very dry summer, conditions generally are favourable, and stock and crops are doing well.

The month began with a continuance of the fine weather which had prevailed over the greater part of July. The rain-producing disturbances were of slight intensity in the New Zealand area until the 13th. A particularly fine spell was experienced from the 8th to the 11th, during which period the weather was controlled by a very intense anticyclone.

On the 12th the western districts were affected by a depression in the Tasman Sea, which gradually moved eastward. On the 14th the trough of the depression lay across the Dominion, and a cyclone developed in its northern portion. The centre of the cyclone crossed the North Island from northern Taranaki to Hawke’s Bay on the 15th, and thence passed away eastward on the 16th. There were north-westerly gales in Cook Strait on the 13th, while on the 15th there were gales, generally from a southerly direction, at many places. At Wellington the southerlies were especially severe and, combined with a high tide, caused much damage to the Kaiwarra to Petone railway, shipping about Cook Strait was delayed, and minor damage of various kinds was done about the city. The period from the morning of the 13th to that of the 16th was a very wet one. The rain was general, and there were many heavy falls.

Another storm of somewhat similar type passed during the 20th. There were northerly gales in Cook Strait during its approach, and fairly general southerly gales over the North Island on the 21st, after the centre had passed. Again there was almost general rain.

Gales and general rains were associated also with an intense southern depression which passed during the 23rd and 24th. At the end of the month occurred the fourth and last of the important disturbances. This was an intense southern depression of the inverted V type. Depressions of this type are usually followed by one or more secondaries, but there were none in this instance. The barometer fell rapidly to a minimum, and then commenced to rise again immediately with even greater rapidity. There were northerly gales during the 30th over much of the South Island, which changed suddenly during the evening to southerlies. The drop in temperature was very marked, and snow fell thickly on all the ranges at least as far as the Wellington Province. In South Canterbury and parts of Otago and Southland the snow reached the low levels, being particularly heavy in South Canterbury. Near Wellington it was low down on the Orongorongos and other nearby hills. The 31st was fortunately a brilliantly fine day over most of the area which received the snowfall, and there was a rapid thaw. Very little loss of stock therefore resulted. Apart from the snow, there was fairly general rain in connection with this storm also.

Snow was reported from the Hermitage on a number of occasions in the course of the month, and the mountains generally are well on the way towards receiving a good covering for the season.

EDWARD KIDSON, Director.