Mar. 8.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 497

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of January, 1934. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 63·6°; and at 3 ft., 62·2°. Number of rain days, 13.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTE.—A changeable and cool summer month, with temperatures 1·5° below average. Total bright sunshine 221·1 hours, 48 per cent. of the possible; two sunless days. Precipitation was 28 per cent. below the normal. Gales were experienced on two days; lightning was observed on the 5th and 6th, and thunderstorms occurred on the 7th and 22nd. Mean dew point at 9 a.m., 51·0°; mean vapour pressure, 0·374 in.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JANUARY, 1934.

General.—People generally regarded January as a changeable and unpleasant month. It was cold and windy for midsummer. To the meteorologist, also, the weather was rather abnormal. This was due principally to the unusually pronounced development of the summer monsoon in Australia. In the middle of the month a severe heat spell was experienced there. Air was being poured out from the Continent in a westerly direction and had a pronounced influence on conditions in New Zealand. At one stage, also, from the 18th to the 20th, a good deal of bush-fire smoke was being brought over. Heavy rains in the eastern parts of the South Island caused a great improvement in the condition of crops and pastures. Unfortunately, considerable local damage was done to wheat crops by hailstorms, and in some cases the plants were borne down by the rain. Around Nelson and in the interior of Marlborough rain is still very badly needed, a shortage of winter feed being threatened. The precipitation at the latter end of the month improved prospects in Taranaki and the Waikato, where feed is generally abundant. Elsewhere conditions are not quite so good. On the whole, however, stock are in very good condition, there is a prospect of good crops, and the milk-yield has been fairly well maintained.

Rainfall.—In the North Island the heavy rains of the 28th and 29th brought the total month’s fall above the average in coastal areas from Kawhia to the South Taranaki Bight, and in parts of the Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa districts. In the west some of the excesses were large. The remainder of the North Island had less rain than average, very dry conditions being experienced in most of the Auckland Province. In the South Island there were very heavy rains along the east coast and extending over most of the interior of Canterbury and southern Nelson and Marlborough. Double the average fall was recorded in places. In northern Nelson and the interior of Marlborough, South Canterbury, Otago, and Southland the situation was reversed, the totals being much below normal.

Temperatures.—The month was abnormally cool. In practically all parts the mean temperature was much below the January average. Particularly was this the case in the Waikato, Taranaki, and Manawatu districts. On the morning of the 23rd there was a rather widespread frost which, though only light, was sufficient at this time of year to do considerable damage to tender crops such as tomatoes, potatoes, beans, &c. In the Nelson district the tobacco crop suffered severely in some localities.

Sunshine was much below normal in the eastern portions of South Canterbury and Otago. Elsewhere there was little departure from the average, but generally it was slightly below. Taupo reports 285·7 hours, Tauranga 269·0 hours, and Lake Tekapo 265·2 hours.

Pressure Systems.—The first stormy period began on the 2nd, and conditions remained unsettled in the South Island until the 7th. Rain was fairly general in the latter area and there were some very heavy falls in Canterbury. On the 5th they were accompanied by thunderstorms and heavy hail, which did much damage to wheat crops.