Aug. 24.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2107

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of June, 1933. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

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

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTE.—A dull, damp, and very cold month, with high barometric pressure, and temperatures well below the average. Precipitation was 34 per cent. below the mean of previous years. The total bright sunshine was only 77·4 hours, being 28 per cent. of the possible, and there were three sunless days. Frost was recorded on the grass on three mornings, hail fell on four days, and fog was in evidence on five days. Thunder was heard on the morning of the 2nd, accompanied by a few flashes of lightning. A few flakes of snow fell in the suburb of Karori on the morning of the 15th. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 41·7°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·263 in.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JUNE, 1933.

General.—The month was a very cold one, with a prevalence of southerly or south-easterly winds. In eastern and northern districts it was very dull and damp with frequent showers of misty rain. The total rainfall was, nevertheless, almost everywhere much below normal. The cold weather checked the growth of vegetation, but during the last week mild and humid conditions permitted a resumption. The low rainfall and the absence of wind, especially in the South Island, enabled stock to get the full benefit of such green feed as was available, and they are reported to be in fair to good condition. The cold reduced the activities of pests, and in Canterbury, for instance, saved the remains of the turnip crops from further depredations.

Rainfall.—Few, if any, drier Junes can have been experienced in New Zealand than the one just past. The only localities where more than the average rain was recorded were a few places on the east coast between Timaru and Dunedin, and a place or two in the Wairarapa and in South Westland. The average deficit in the South Island was about a third, while in the North Island it was more. Even places on the east coast which had frequent rains had only a small total. The case of Napier, where the rainfall was the lowest on record for June, was especially interesting. Rain was recorded on 11 days, but the maximum fall was 0·05 in. and the total only 0·24 in. In addition, there were traces of rain on 8 days.

Temperatures.—Temperatures were much below normal, but there were no very severe days. The atmosphere was too humid at most places for frosts to be exceptionally hard, although inland, especially in the South Island, they were numerous. In the interior of Canterbury, however, some very low temperatures were recorded. In many places, as for instance in Central Otago and the coastal districts of Canterbury, the development of fogs checked the fall of temperature at night, but some cold and dismal days resulted.

Sunshine.—Districts exposed to the eastward had much less than the average sunshine, Wellington, with 77·4 hours, faring the worst. In the interior and on the west coast conditions were much better. Tauranga had the splendid record of 199·4 hours, and New Plymouth, Nelson, Blenheim, and Hokitika all had well above the average.

Pressure Systems.—Pressure was generally high during the month, especially in the South. There was very little storm activity over the Dominion itself. The most important depressions were of cyclonic form, but in only one case did the track of the centre cross our coasts and that was on the night of the 1st. This particular storm was a deep one, and its course lay across southern Otago. The rain associated with it was more general and heavier than at any other time during the month.