Dec. 3.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3435

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 54·8° ; and at 3 ft., 53·2°. Number of rain days, 9.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTE.—A mild spring month with moderate to strong northerly and north-westerly winds prevailing. Precipitation was 18 per cent. below the mean of previous years. Total bright sunshine, 226·3 hours, 55 per cent. of the possible, and one sunless day. No frosts were recorded. Thunder was heard on the 22nd, and hail fell on the 25th. Mean dew-point at 9 hrs., was 46·5°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·316 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 1931.

General.—In marked contrast to the cold wintry type of weather of the preceding period, October, for the most part, proved a very pleasant spring month, notable features of which were the predominance of northerly winds, warm temperatures, and fairly abundant sunshine.

For the past two years the mean monthly temperatures have been almost consistently below normal, while last year was one of the coldest Octobers experienced since records had been kept. During the present October, however, most districts recorded above normal temperatures. The coldest day generally was the 24th, when a bitter southerly blew, accompanied by hail and snow showers in many parts of the South Island and in the central and high country of the North Island. During the night a damaging frost occurred in some districts, this being the only occasion on which a severe frost was registered.

As a result of the generally favourable weather, vegetation made good growth in nearly all parts of the Dominion, and stock, crops, and pastures are in a very satisfactory condition. Our New Plymouth observer, however, reports that, although there was plenty of sunshine, growth was rather slow in that district on account of a prevalence of drying winds.

Rainfall.—Practically the whole of the Dominion had less than the normal rainfall, the deficiency being greatest in the North Island, and most pronounced in the Hawke’s Bay Province. Central Hawke’s Bay experienced extremely dry weather, and a good soaking rain would be especially welcome in that area.

Pressure Systems.—Anticyclones were frequent during the month, and although their centres, as is usual at this season, moved rather far north, they were responsible for generally fine weather from the 3rd to the 4th, the 14th to the 19th, and from the 26th to the 31st.

Depressions were mainly cyclonic in form, but they were not frequent and were usually of slight extent and intensity. One such passed through Cook Strait on the night of the 1st and accounted for fairly general rain during the night, while on the 2nd some heavy falls occurred in the neighbourhood of Cook Strait, with a strong southerly wind on the latter date.

On the 8th another depression of a similar type located north of the Bay of Plenty was responsible for some heavy rain in the latter district and in the Auckland Province. In the afternoon of this day a severe thunderstorm accompanied by heavy hail broke over Auckland City.

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