AUG. 26]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JULY, 1943

General Notes.—The month of July was cold though sunny. Winds were mainly light, and the absence of stormy conditions has made the winter not so severe on stock as it might have been. It is reported that autumn-sown crops are making steady progress.

Rainfall.—Rainfall was frequent over the North Island, but most places received less than the normal total, except between Raglan and Wellington including all Taranaki, where falls were moderately above. Rain was less frequent in the south, and there the deficiencies were more marked. Excess rain, however, was recorded on the Kaikoura coast and over Banks Peninsula, chiefly as the result of very heavy rain about the 12th. The driest areas were Nelson, most of Marlborough, and a belt lying east of the ranges and stretching from Lake Coleridge to Invercargill.

Temperatures.—Temperatures were low throughout the month. The only parts to have means up to average were the far north and Hawke's Bay. Frosts were frequent but not severe, except in those areas which received the heavy snow at the end of June. In such places snow lay on the ground for a number of days. As a result, the departures at Hanmer, Ophir, and Fairlie, for example, were several degrees below normal, and for the last named the mean was equal to that of the coldest month on record.

Sunshine.—Except for Banks Peninsula and the Wairarapa, the sunshine totals were appreciably above average values, and new records were established in Tauranga, Wanganui, Westport, and Methven.

Weather Sequence.—At the start of the month, with the decrease of south-westerly winds which were bringing occasional showers to the east coast of the North Island, the weather improved generally. An anticyclone was east of the South Island and another in the North intensified from the 3rd to 5th. Winds were light, causing widespread frost and morning fog. On the 6th there was only one intense anticyclone which was west of Chatham Island, and north-easterlies prevailed with increased cloud in the far north.

A disturbance from the west gave some heavy rain in the western half of the South Island on the 7th and fairly general rain over the North Island during the next day. Thereafter moderate westerlies predominated, with only isolated showers on the windward coasts. A stationary disturbance gave rain over the centre of the North Island. A depression from the Lord Howe Island region, which passed Taranaki on the 12th, caused more widespread rain in the North Island and later scattered rain in the north and east of the other island. Some flooding occurred in the rivers of South Taranaki, Wellington, and Marlborough Provinces. Strong south-easterly winds prevailed in central districts but westerlies further north. The depression which was near Chatham Island had filled up by the 15th, and the weather already clear in the west became fine generally. Day temperatures were moderate but frosts numerous.

As an anticyclone which had enveloped New Zealand moved to the south-east on the 16th and 17th, north-easterlies freshened south of Christchurch and cloud increased in the eastern districts. The old depression near Chathams began to deepen considerably, and some drizzle and rain fell between Akaroa and Gisborne.

On the 20th a weak trough from the west gave a period of rain in Westland and Southland and showers occurred north of Egmont. It cleared in Westland and Nelson on the 21st, but a freshening of the southerly or south-westerly winds produced colder and very changeable conditions, with showers at times north of Auckland and from Banks Peninsula to East Cape. Further deepening of the Chatham's low strengthened the south-westerly current, and the showers in places were accompanied by hail and thunder. Conditions were improving from the west on the 23rd, and the depression moved well away on the 24th.

With a deep depression crossing the southern Tasman Sea on the 25th and 26th, north-westerlies increased in Cook Strait and Taranaki and reached gale force, while heavy rain set in on the west coast. The wind backed westerly on the 26th and tended more southerly on the 27th. Conditions improved gradually in Westland, but elsewhere it was changeable and showery with some snow on the ranges. As pressure rose steadily over New Zealand winds moderated. Isolated showers persisted on the east coast, but elsewhere the weather became mainly fine though frosty.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

Decisions of the Bureau of Industry under Part III of the Industrial Efficiency Act, 1936

Bureau of Industry, G.P.O. 3025, Wellington.

NOTICE is hereby given that, pursuant to the authority conferred on the Bureau of Industry under Part III of the Industrial Efficiency Act, 1936, the following decisions have been made in respect of applications for licenses.

G. L. O'HALLORAN, Secretary.