Nov. 27.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3629

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of September, 1930. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 49·6°; and at 3 ft., 50°. Number of rain days, 19.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTE.—A cold, cloudy, and stormy month, with temperatures considerably below the mean of previous years. Total bright sunshine, 125·7 hours, 35 per cent. of the possible, and two sunless days. At Karori Reservoir, near Kelburn, rainfall was 57 per cent. above the average of previous years. There was a very slight fall of snow on the 6th and 7th. Frost was recorded on the grass on the 7th, 8th, and 23rd, and hail fell on the 6th, 9th, 29th, and 30th. Fog was in evidence on the 1st, and lightning was seen on the 15th. Mean dew-point, 40·7°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·253 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, 1930.

After a very severe winter, August appeared to give promise of a return to milder conditions. September, however, brought a set-back, and another cold and stormy month was experienced. The tendency for subnormal temperatures, which has been in evidence for over a year past, therefore continues. The cold spell between the 6th and the 12th was responsible for considerable losses of lambs, especially in Hawke’s Bay, the Wairarapa, and Canterbury. In the ranges of the South Island the snowfalls generally were not very heavy, so that the losses were not so serious as on the lower country, where the effect of the cold was increased by the high precipitation. The growth of vegetation was retarded, and the season is in a somewhat backward state. Nevertheless, stock, crops, and pastures are mainly in fair condition.

Temperature: The temperature at Wellington and Christchurch last month was the coldest September recorded, while at many other places the only one with a lower mean temperature was that of 1925.

Rainfall: Rainfall was above normal in the district from Whangarei southwards to Auckland and Thames, in the eastern portion of the North Island from East Cape to Wellington, and on the high central plateau, and in Canterbury and Otago. Elsewhere it mainly was below normal. The excesses were considerable in parts of Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury, and North Otago. In most districts where a deficit was recorded, it was of a considerable magnitude also, while the areas around Nelson and Blenheim had a very dry month.

Pressure: The mean pressure was considerably below the September average.

Sunshine and Cloudiness: The month was a cloudy one in most districts, and the total amount of sunshine recorded was unusually low.

Winds: The month, on the whole, was a windy one, especially in the northern half of the North Island and in eastern districts generally. There was a persistent tendency for low pressures to the east of New Zealand, while over eastern Australia high pressures prevailed. The result was that once more there was a high proportion of southerly winds. During the period from the 23rd to the 28th weather of the westerly type ruled and conditions were mild.

Weather and Storm Systems: In many parts the month was a showery one, with the rainfall fairly uniformly distributed. No very general rains were experienced, and such heavy falls as were recorded came at different periods in the different districts.

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