SEPT. 26.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2549

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 46·2°; and at 3 ft., 48·2°. Number of rain days, 16.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force 8 or more). 4 to 7. Calm. N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W.
1 | 17 | 1 | 3½ | 6½ | .. | 7½ | 4½ | 1 | .. | 7

NOTE.—An unsettled month, with moderate to high S.E. and N.W. winds prevailing. The rainfall was 68 per cent. above the mean at Karori Reservoir, near Kelburn. Total bright sunshine, 153·9 hours, 47 per cent. of the possible, and five sunless days. Hail fell on the 6th, 12th, and 25th; lightning was seen and thunder heard on the 6th. Frost was recorded on the grass on six mornings, and fog was in evidence on five days. Mean dew-point, 41·5°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·261 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 1929.

The weather of August was mainly a repetition of the unsettled type experienced during the previous month, with the additional disadvantage of more frequent strong winds, from both northerly and southerly directions. The monotony of unsettled conditions was, however, relieved by three intervals of fine weather, associated with well developed anticyclones. These fine spells covered the periods from the 1st to the 6th, from the 13th to the 15th, and from the 27th to the close of the month.

The differences from the average rainfall varied considerably, places in the same districts showing marked departures in opposite directions. For instance, Wellington City had 68 per cent. above the average, but Foxton 35 per cent. below, Timaru 11 per cent. above and Oamaru 26 per cent. below, Hanmer Springs 138 per cent. above and Christchurch 33 per cent. below. Westland recorded less than the average, as also did the greater part of Otago and Southland. Queenstown, however, had an excess. The Kaikoura district and the high country of the South Island had considerably more than the average. In the North Island, North Auckland and parts of the Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and Taranaki districts had less than the normal fall, but the central area and places in the Wellington and Wanganui districts had more. Temperatures were, on the whole, below normal, owing principally to the prolonged southerly spell from the 20th to the 27th, inclusive. Frosts were unusually numerous. Snowfall was even greater than last month in the mountain ranges of the South Island. At some of the high-level sheep-stations snow raking had to be resorted to. It is considered that there has not been so great an accumulation of snow in the mountains for about ten years. Although the growth of pasture was retarded somewhat by the cold temperatures, it was not altogether checked, for in most districts sunshine was fairly abundant, and while the nights were cold they were compensated for by many mild days. Furthermore, though cold, conditions were seldom severe. Stock have kept in good condition, and lambing averages, so far, have been satisfactory. In some districts, such as the central portion of the North Island, the heavy rain has caused some mortality amongst the newly born lambs. The cold and wet conditions were detrimental, also, to the milk supply from dairy herds.