Dec. 20.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 4379

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 60·8°; and at 3 ft., 58·9°. Number of rain days, 8.

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.
.. | 10 | .. | 6½ | .. | 3 | 6 | 2 | .. | .. | 12½

NOTE.—A wonderful spring month. Temperature, 3 to 4 degrees above normal. Extreme maximum of 80·5° on the 29th only once previously equalled in November since records began in 1864. Same reading was recorded in November, 1876, but at a lower level. Total bright sunshine, 274·9 hours, 64 per cent. of the possible. This is the sunniest November since records commenced in 1907. Precipitation was 26 per cent. below normal. Meteorologically speaking, November passed without any unpleasant phenomenon. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 51·9°; mean vapour pressure, 0·386 in.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR NOVEMBER, 1934.

General.—November was a very remarkable month; conditions were unusually uniform throughout the country and everywhere was characteristic of a summer rather than a spring month. The rainfall was the lowest for many years. Temperatures were much above normal and although higher mean temperatures have been experienced in previous years it has never been so uniformly warm. There was no really cold weather. At numbers of places the extreme maximum temperature was the highest ever recorded in November. The lack of rain and the continuous sunshine are causing pastures to become browned in many places, especially on hill-slopes. The severity of the heat has, however, been mitigated so far as vegetation is concerned by the lack of wind, especially very strong winds. Though rain is now badly needed there is still ample feed in most districts. Stock are in good condition and the milk yield is fairly well maintained. Lambs have fattened well. Shearing has been carried on with little trouble. Crops are, on the whole, doing satisfactorily. Hay is being harvested and ensilage being stored unusually early.

Rainfall.—Good rains were experienced in North Auckland, the November average being considerably exceeded. The same was the case at a few places in the interior of the North Island and the Bay of Plenty district. These areas formed only a small fraction of the whole country, and in all other parts there was a very marked shortage. Large areas of the west coast of the South Island received less than a quarter of the normal rainfall, and for the whole Island the average deficit was about 50 per cent.

Temperatures.—Temperatures were much above normal, especially at inland stations, the departures in numbers of cases exceeding 5° F. There were very few frosts and at few places were any sufficiently severe to cause damage.

Sunshine.—The month was a very sunny one, the average being exceeded in practically all districts. Blenheim had 276·8, New Plymouth 275·8, and Wellington 274·9 hours.

Storm Systems.—Storms were conspicuous by their absence over New Zealand. During the first few days a very shallow low-pressure trough moved northwards over the Dominion and caused fairly general though mainly only light to moderate rain.

On the 8th a very deep cyclone developed over Tasmania, but it moved southwards and filled up before reaching New Zealand. The same happened again at the end of the month with a cyclone which caused widespread devastation in Victoria. A slight disturbance passing between the 12th and 14th was responsible for some very welcome downpours on either side of Cook Strait, though little rain fell elsewhere.