MAY 27.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1235

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of April, 1937. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at l ft., 57·9°; and at 3 ft., 59·8°. Number of rain days, 14. Total rainfall, 37 per cent. below normal. Sunshine, 54 per cent. of the possible. Mean dewpoint at 9 a.m., 47·7°; mean vapour pressure, 0·33l in.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force 8 or more). Forces 4 to 7. N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W. Calm.

1 | 6 | 6 | 3½ | 1 | 5 | 4 | ... | ½ | 8 | 2

NOTE.—A north-west gale was experienced on the 2nd, and light hail fell in the early morning of the 24th. A beautiful display of the aurora australis was seen on the night of the 28th.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR APRIL, 1937.

General.—The first half of April was warm and, except in the northern portion of the North Island, dry. Since there was in most parts comparatively little wind, conditions were very pleasant. Vegetation flourished and stock were doing well. The second half, however, was very cold for the time of year and, although not in general heavy, rain was frequent. The ground became cold and saturated, and growth to a large extent ceased. There is, however, ample winter pasture for stock, which are still reported to be in good condition. The softness of the feed is still militating against the fattening of lambs in some districts. There is more snow on the ranges than usual at this time of year.

Rainfall.—Rainfall was above average in North Auckland, at Tauranga, near East Cape, in the South Taranaki Bight from Wanganui to Hawera and thence inland, and over most of Otago and Southland. In parts of the last-mentioned area the total was double the normal value. Elsewhere there was generally a considerable defect from the average. Rain was very frequent throughout the month in North Auckland and in the East Cape area, while from the 20th onward it was frequent almost everywhere.

Temperatures.—The mean temperature for the month was almost everywhere below normal. The only exceptions occurred at a few places in the Auckland Province, where the departures were, in general, rather small. Over the North Island as a whole the average departure was about 1° F. Over the South Island conditions were definitely colder, and the mean departure was about 2° F. Several frosts occurred, and tender plants were cut off at a rather early date in most districts.

Sunshine.—There was more bright sunshine than usual over most of the southern half of the North Island and at Blenheim and Timaru, but in most other parts considerably less. Blenheim had 190·4 hours and Tauranga 183·4.

Pressure and Storm Systems.—The month began with a series of rather deep westerly depressions crossing the South Island. On the 3rd an anticyclone began to approach from the Tasman Sea. Southerly winds set in and were strong in many places. Some snow fell on the mountains at this time. The anticyclone became intense as it reached New Zealand, and its centre moved to the east coast of the South Island on the night of the 4th. Strong south-easterly winds continued to blow to the northwards, and the vigorous invasion of cold air into low latitudes led to the development of a cyclone in the Norfolk Island region. From the 7th the anticyclone began to move away eastwards. Thereafter, a series of depressions developed over the Tasman Sea and the Dominion, the pressure generally showing a falling tendency until the 17th, when there was a brief rise and southerly winds prevailed. The situation during this period and until the 19th was too complicated to describe in detail, but there was no very stormy weather.