202 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. [No. 8

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 63.5°; and at 3 ft., 61.0°. Number of rain days, 10.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTE.—A fine summer month. Total bright sunshine, 255 hours, 54 per cent. of the possible, which was a good deal above the average for December of 227.5 hours. There were three sunless days. Rainfall was 5 per cent. below the mean of previous years. Temperatures were normal. Lightning was seen on 1st, 2nd, 19th, and 20th, and thunder was heard on the 20th. Mean dew-point at 9 hrs., 50.6°; and mean vapour pressure 0.369 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, 1931.

General.—December was, generally speaking, a pleasant month, with abundant sunshine. There were three periods during which large parts of the country received very beneficial rains. Their value was all the greater owing to the fact that they fell in warm weather. In many cases, indeed, they resembled tropical downpours, and were associated with thunderstorms. Rain is still badly wanted in Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay, and still more in Canterbury and Central Otago. The higher levels are generally in fairly good condition, but the plains are very dry, and feed is scarce. In other parts there is ample feed and the prospects are favourable. Stock are in fair to good condition.

Rainfall.—Owing to the fact that much of the rain came in heavy downpours of a local character, the distribution was irregular. On the whole, however, the more exposed portions of the country tended to have more than the average for December, while in the interior and in eastern districts deficits largely predominated. Nelson Province experienced a wet month, especially the area around Tasman Bay. Nelson City had 11.06 in., the highest total recorded in any single month since 1883. North Auckland and parts of the East Cape districts also had much more than the average. The deficits were most serious in Poverty Bay, Hawke's Bay, the Wairarapa, and in Canterbury. In the last-mentioned province the amounts were approximately half only of the December normal.

Temperatures.—There were some exceptions, but over most of the Dominion the mean temperature was high for December.

Winds.—A considerable amount of northerly wind was experienced, especially in the middle of the month, but since it was generally north rather than north-west, its character was not so unpleasant as usual. In the southern half of the South Island, however, there was a considerable proportion of westerly wind which accentuated the effect of the dry weather.

Sunshine.—The number of hours of sunshine recorded was generally high, but was below the average at Hokitika and parts of Canterbury.

Storm Systems.—Most of the rain during the month was caused by storms of cyclonic type, and occurred during three periods. The first was associated with a cyclone which was deep when over the Tasman Sea on the 6th, but which decreased in intensity next day and, moving north-eastwards, crossed the Dominion at its northern extremity. Rain was widespread and over the North Island almost general, but the falls were, in many cases, light or moderate. On the whole it was rather disappointing.