JAN. 23.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 89

Note on Change in Method of Publication.

As a measure of economy in paper it has been decided, after January, 1941, to publish in the Gazette the first two pages only of the monthly meteorological statistics and to eliminate the detailed rainfall records. An exception will be the inclusion of the 1940 rainfall data in the Gazette in March, 1941.

The monthly rainfall records for January, 1941, onwards will be included in an annual publication of the Meteorological Office, and anyone who desires to have detailed information on rainfall more promptly than by the medium of this annual publication should communicate with the Director, Meteorological Office, P.O. Box 722, Wellington C. 1.

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of December, 1940. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 64·2°; and at 3 ft., 61·0°. Number of rain days, 8. Total rainfall, 9 per cent. below normal. Sunshine, 49 per cent. of the possible. Only one day without any bright sunshine recorded. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 53·9°; mean vapour pressure, 0·416 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. .. | 15 | 8 | 2 | .. | 3½ | 5½ | .. | 1½ | 9½ | 1

Note.-Except for a moderate north-west gale on the 10th, the month was devoid of meteorological incident.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR DECEMBER, 1940.

General Notes.-December was warm, dry and sunny, with conditions ideal for shearing and haymaking. Most cereal and fodder crops have been growing rapidly as also the linen-flax and, in the Auckland Province, the paspalum grass. Fruit is ripening very well, although the crops in some cases are not heavy. There is still plenty of grass, and dairy production continues at a high level, while pastures which are now drying are most favourable for fat lambs.

Rainfall.-Rainfall was well below average in most places, frequently by deficits of 50 per cent. or more. The average was reached, however, in South Westland and exceeded in parts of central Hawke’s Bay and in a region embracing Taupo, Rotorua, and Tauranga. These North Island excesses were due to the torrential rains during the 14th, for which day Katikati recorded 9·10 in.

Temperatures.-Mean temperatures were everywhere above normal. The cold changes were of very brief duration, and towards the end of the month there were several particularly hot days, especially in Southland.

Sunshine.-Apart from Taranaki and Westland, where sunshine was slightly under average, it was in excess, with substantial surpluses occurring in the South Island.

Weather Sequence.-An extensive anticyclone was responsible for fair weather over most of the country, but on the 5th a disturbance extended across the South Island bringing a moderate southerly change with intermittent rain in the west and south and, on the following days, some drizzle in the Central Provinces. However, the anticyclonic centre remained in the north-east so that, except for scattered rain at times in Westland and Southland, fair weather prevailed.

A trough arriving on the 10th caused a westerly change, but the scattered rain affected little more than Westland. A weak westerly depression on the 12th was followed by cool south-west winds, scattered showers later extending to eastern districts. Some remarkable downpours occurred at isolated parts of the Hawke’s Bay and south Auckland Provinces on the 14th, in some cases with thunderstorms and heavy hail. Conditions which had cleared in the south then improved generally as an anticyclone covered the whole Dominion. As this system moved eastward on the 17th north-westerly winds became strong in the Cook Strait region, while some rain fell in the west and south of the South Island as a new disturbance approached. The advancing southerlies gave only scattered precipitation, and by the 19th anticyclonic conditions prevailed again over the whole area. Some intermittent rain developed in western districts from Taranaki southwards, and a moderate south-westerly change gave showers on the east coast of the South Island. North-west or west winds continued over the North Island and on the 21st reached gale force about the South Taranaki Bight.