May 17.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1459

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 62·0°; and at 3 ft., 62·4°. Number of rain days, 12.

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.
.. | 12 | .. | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | .. | .. | 9

NOTE.—A cool and windy month, with temperatures about 1·5° below normal. Total bright sunshine, 179·1 hours, 47 per cent. of the possible; four sunless days. Rainfall was 22 per cent. below normal. Gales occurred on many occasions, chiefly at night; there was a fog on the morning of the 20th; and lightning was seen on the night of the 7th. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 51·0°; mean vapour pressure, 0·373 in.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR MARCH, 1934.

General.—In much the greater part of the North Island March was very dry. In the South Island conditions were more varied, and a most important feature was the breaking of the drought in Nelson and Marlborough by the heavy rains of the 27th. Temperatures were considerably below normal, but this was not altogether an unfavourable circumstance since, in combination with a general absence of strong winds, it tended to mitigate the effects of the lack of rainfall, especially in the middle of the month. In most districts there is abundant pasture of good quality, but in the Waikato and parts of Taranaki rain is needed to produce a good growth before winter. In Nelson and Marlborough, also, there has not yet been much recovery following the drought. Stock are almost everywhere reported to be in good condition, the milk yield has been well maintained, and crops generally are good. The apple crop in Nelson is, however, rather light owing to the absence of soil moisture.

Rainfall.—The only considerable area of the North Island which had more than the average rainfall included most of western Wellington south of Wanganui and extended to the northern Wairarapa. Over the rest of the Island the totals averaged only about half the normal, and the central and north-eastern districts recorded a particularly dry month. In the South Island, an area in North Canterbury and South Marlborough had double the usual fall for March. Westport, also, had a heavy fall. Elsewhere, conditions varied considerably, but excesses were rather less numerous than deficits.

Temperatures.—The month was a distinctly cold one. At most places the mean temperature was between 1° and 2° below normal. The west coast of the South Island had relatively milder conditions than the remainder of the Dominion. A few frosts were recorded but, on the whole, the cold spells, though lengthy, were not severe.

Sunshine.—In eastern districts of the South Island from Canterbury southwards cloudy and humid conditions prevailed, and sunshine was much below normal. Elsewhere, totals were generally either equal or better than average. Nelson had 248·6, Napier 221·5, Taupo 221·2, New Plymouth 219·7, and Blenheim 219·1 hours.

Pressure Systems.—The storm systems experienced during the month were rather too complicated to describe in detail. A marked characteristic of the general situation was the disturbed conditions which prevailed in the tropics. Damage was done by cyclones in Australia on both the north-west and the Queensland coasts, while several less violent storms occurred in the area to the east of Australia. Associated with these conditions were a number of intense and widespread anti-cyclones which occurred in New Zealand latitudes. In several the pressure at the centre exceeded 30·5 in., and the mean pressure for the month was considerably above normal.

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