1496
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 41

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of March, 1929. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 63·4°; and at 3 ft., 63·2°. Number of rain days, 13.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTE.—A cloudy and wet month with moderate to strong N. and N.W. winds prevailing. Precipitation was 41 per cent. above the normal of Karori Reservoir, near Kelburn. Fog was in evidence on the 5th and 7th. Total bright sunshine, 183·9 hours, 48 per cent. of the possible, and three sunless days. Mean dew-point, 54·1°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·419 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, 1929.

The month of March has been a very wet one over much the greater part of the Dominion. In many districts the average fall was greatly exceeded. Slight deficits were experienced at scattered places in the central parts of the North Island, from Taranaki to Hawke’s Bay, and from the Bay of Plenty to the Wairarapa. A few places in Canterbury, South Westland, and Southland also had less than the normal. The rain, following on a dry February, was very beneficial. Pastures are in a good condition, and prospects for winter feed favourable over almost the whole country. Stock and crops also were in good condition at the end of the month.

About Waihi, milk yields are reported to have fallen off, but elsewhere they are generally good for the time of year. Temperatures were slightly below normal, especially in districts with an easterly aspect, where also there was considerable cloudiness. In a few cases the damp and dull weather has interfered with harvesting operations.

Among the outstanding features of the month was a cyclone of very small dimensions which, after having been met by the s.s. “Tofua” on her way to Auckland, crossed from the Bay of Plenty to Poverty Bay between the 17th and 18th. Gales of great severity, though fortunately of short duration, were experienced, and some damage was done in the environs of Opotiki and Gisborne. Another was the torrential downpour which occurred during a southerly gale over the eastern portions of Otago on the evening of the 19th. Around Dunedin the falls varied between about 4 in. and 11 in., the heaviest occurring in the watershed of the Leith Stream. The Leith rose rapidly to record flood-level and, in addition to doing very serious damage along its own banks, caused heavy flooding of the northern business portion of Dunedin. Oamaru also recorded over 6 in. of rain, and experienced heavy flooding accompanied by some damage to property.

Still another unusual phenomenon was the occurrence of Aurora Australis on four nights during the month—namely, the 10th, 12th, 13th, and 17th. The display of the 12th was particularly brilliant. Large spot groups were noted on the central portion of the sun on about these days.

On the 1st an intense cyclonic storm had developed east of Brisbane. This storm remained in the northern Tasman Sea until the 4th, after which it disappeared without affecting New Zealand to any very great extent. On the 5th, however, a deep southern depression advanced from the Tasman Sea and had not completely crossed the Dominion until the 8th,