Nov. 7.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2791

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the month of September, 1929. Observations taken at 9 a.m.
Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 49·3°; and at 3 ft., 49·6°. Number of rain days, 13.

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.
3 | 13 | .. | 8½ | 5½ | 2 | 4½ | 2½ | 1 | .. | 6

NOTE.—September was a cold month, with mean temperature some three degrees below the average. Total bright sunshine; 203·2 hours, 57 per cent. of the possible, and one sunless day. The rainfall was 15 per cent. above the mean at Karori Reservoir, near Kelburn. Frost was recorded on the grass on seven mornings, lightning was seen on the 10th, and hail fell on the 3rd, 11th, 27th, and 28th. Mean dew-point, 41·1°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·257 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, 1929.

This year we have experienced the coldest September for a considerable time. All parts of the country report low average temperatures, and frosts were unusually numerous. Although cold, the month was a sunny one, there being numbers of beautifully fine days. Rainfall was, on the whole, below average. This was almost generally the case over the North Island, except about Wellington. In the South Island, both east and west coasts experienced a dry month, but Stewart Island, Southland, and much of the central portions of the Island had more than the normal fall. The low temperatures gave a distinct setback to growing vegetation, and feed is rather short in most districts. Parts of the North Island escaped the severity of the storms and are in good condition. There have been losses of lambs in the Wellington Province and parts of the South Island, especially the foothills of Canterbury.

The storms recorded during the month were in no case responsible for any very heavy rains except at a few isolated places. Snow, however, fell frequently, especially in the high country of the South Island. In the interior of Canterbury it has been one of the worst seasons on record for snow, but no very severe losses of stock are reported.

The tendency for storms to take on cyclonic form was again in evidence during the month. Subtropical waters to the north and north-east have been unusually frequently disturbed by storms of this type.

On the 1st a deep depression of the southern or westerly type was approaching the Dominion. A small cyclonic centre developed in its northern portion, and this crossed Canterbury on the afternoon of the 2nd. Heavy north-westerly gales blew in the Cook Strait region and over the South Island. The greatest severity was felt in Canterbury, and much damage was done to plantations in the Ashburton County. Cold southerlies followed, gale force again being reached in places. Snowfalls were recorded in Canterbury and Otago.

Following a fine spell, another southern depression passed on the 8th. Northerly gales again blew in and south of Cook Strait. A tornado visited the Seddon district, in Marlborough. Some places reported thunderstorms.

A moderate cyclone crossed the North Tasman Sea during the period from the 10th to the 13th, passing between Norfolk Island and Cape Maria van Diemen on the last-mentioned date. Being so far north its effect was to produce fine rather than wet weather over New Zealand. When it was well to the eastward, however, on the 16th, south-westerly gales were experienced.