SEPT. 10.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2781

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations taken at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of June, 1931. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 47·5°; and at 3 ft., 50·6°. Number of rain days, 17.

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.
.. | 16 | 2 | 2 | 1½ | ½ | 7½ | 6½ | 1½ | .. | 8½

NOTE.—A cloudy and unsettled month, with approximate mean temperature two degrees below the average. Total bright sunshine, 116·8 hours, 42 per cent. of the possible, and four sunless days. Precipitation was 36 per cent. above the mean of previous years. Frost was recorded on the grass on four mornings; hail fell on the 5th, 6th, and 29th, and fog was in evidence on the 16th and 22nd. A few flakes of snow fell on the 29th. Mean dew-point at 9 hrs., 40·8°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·254 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, 1931.

General.—June saw the cold conditions, which have now persisted almost continuously for two years, again strongly developed. Several very widespread snowfalls occurred, and severe frosts were recorded, especially in the second half. Except in the Wellington Province the rainfall was generally considerably below normal. Parts of South Canterbury and Otago, particularly, are feeling the long shortage of precipitation. The low temperatures of the latter end of the month effectively checked the growth of vegetation. Supplementary feeding of stock is being resorted to in many districts, but animals appear generally to be in good condition.

Rainfall.—Owing chiefly to heavy falls between the 12th and 14th, the Wellington Province generally experienced an excess of rainfall. More than the average was experienced also at scattered places elsewhere in both North and South Islands. Low rainfalls were, however, the rule, and at many places heavy deficits were recorded.

Temperature.—Temperatures averaged over 2° F. below normal for the Dominion, the month being particularly cold in Canterbury and Otago. There were numbers of severe frosts, especially at the end of the month. On the 6th the lowest grass minimum temperature hitherto recorded (15° F.) was reported from Rotorua, while on the 30th, 9° F. was recorded at Gore, and 7° F. at Fairlie. There were four periods of widespread snowfall, the 2nd–5th, the 14th–16th, the 22nd–24th, and the 28th–29th.

Sunshine.—The amount of bright sunshine recorded was, for the Dominion as a whole, approximately the average for June.

Winds.—As would be expected from the remarks regarding temperatures, southerly winds were more frequent than usual. Southerly gales were severe in some part or other of the country on the 4th–5th, 16th–17th, 23rd, and 26th. That of the 26th was very heavy between Cook Strait and Banks Peninsula, and shipping received a severe buffeting. That of the 23rd was felt most severely in Canterbury and Otago, where considerable damage of a minor nature was done.

Storm Systems.—On the 4th a vigorous depression of the westerly type passed south of New Zealand. Southerly gales blew in its rear, and snow fell on the high levels. Hail showers, also, were experienced in the South.

After a spell of fine weather associated with an anti-cyclone which passed on the 8th, an irregular series of depressions crossed the Dominion between the 10th and the 14th. There was much heavy rain in western districts and in the Wellington Province, where considerable flooding occurred.

D