206
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 5

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 58·5°; and at 3 ft., 56·6°. Number of rain days, 12.

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.
2 | 13 | .. | 3½ | ½ | 1 | 4½ | 2½ | .. | ½ | 17½

NOTE.—A cool and cloudy month, with much threatening weather, but comparatively little rain until the 25th. Cloud, wind, and rainfall were above the normal, while temperatures and sunshine were below. Total bright sunshine, 171·4 hours, 40 per cent. of the possible, and two sunless days. Fog was in evidence on the 24th, thunder was heard on the 27th, and lightning was seen on the 28th. No frosts were recorded. Mean dew-point, 50·3°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·363 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 1929.

After a long dry spell, rainy conditions had set in over a large part of the country at the end of October. These continued throughout November, which proved a dull and humid month. Heavy rains were recorded in many districts, some places having the wettest November for many years. The totals for the month were below the normal in the low-lying country facing the Taranaki Bight, from Patea to Foxton, in the Wairarapa, and on the Plain country of Canterbury and North Otago. Elsewhere there was an excess, that was in most cases considerable. At Auckland, Tairua, Nelson, and Clyde, the rain was more than double the average for November, while at Tauranga and Maraehako Station, near Opotiki, it was approximately double.

Temperatures, though there was much warm and humid weather, were, on the average, below normal, especially over the South Island. Sunshine records were also low, while the amount of cloud was correspondingly high.

There was more wind than usual, north-westerlies predominating. In this respect the previous absence of westerlies was to some extent counterbalanced, and a more normal type of spring weather experienced. Most of the rain fell in the north-westerlies, comparatively little being brought by the southerlies, which were rather poorly developed. This fact accounted for the continued dry conditions in some areas.

Feed is abundant in most districts and stock are in fair to good condition. In Otago and Southland conditions are especially good, but in the remaining areas which had excess rainfall the growth has been too rank, and the weather has favoured the appearance of fungus and other pests. A spell of dry, sunny weather would do good in these districts. In Canterbury and the Wairarapa further rain is needed to ensure good crops and adequate supplies of feed.

There were two principal storm periods, the first being from the 4th to the 9th, during which two cyclonic depressions crossed the Dominion, the first over Otago and the second over Auckland. Rain was general, and many heavy falls were recorded in the North Island and western districts. In the central part of the North Island, particularly, this was a very warm, humid, and rainy spell. On the 6th, a sudden thunderstorm and a heavy downpour occurred at Crushingtion, near Reefton, where some of the creeks were flooded. On the 8th there was a flood in the Wairau River due to heavy rain in the back country. On the 9th particularly severe thunderstorms, accompanied by exceptionally heavy rains, occurred over a large part of the north central portion of the North Island. Flooding was reported from Auckland as far north as Whangarei, in the Lower Thames valley, and in the Napier district. There were several instances of stock being killed by lightning,