APRIL 27]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR MARCH, 1944

General.--March, like February, was often unsettled, with some heavy rains. Growth has been unusually good and winter feed prospects are bright, particularly in Canterbury. Much of the growth, however, is rather soft owing to the poor sunshine. Late harvesting has been completed with difficulty.

Rainfall.--North of Westport and Ashburton rainfall was in excess, the only exceptions being the Marlborough low country and isolated places on the coast between Plimmerton and Cape Egmont. In and east of the main North Island ranges, as well as over most of the Auckland Province, rainfall generally exceeded double the average. Exceptional totals were recorded in the country fringing and inland from Hawke Bay, and for that area not only was this the wettest March but also for many places a record for any month. The eastern Wairarapa also had exceptional amounts, especially in the southern portion. Notable values were Waikaremoana 34·42 in., Rissington 26·05 in., and Maungaorangi 25·03 in. Flooding occurred early in the month in the far north and on several occasions between Waipukurau and East Cape, where serious damage was caused to some of the main highways.

To the south of Dunedin, including Stewart Island, rainfall failed to reach half the normal total.

Temperature.--Over most of the North Island and in Westland mean temperatures were slightly above normal, while they were mostly 1° or 2° F. lower elsewhere. Numerous frosts occurred about the 20th and 21st and again near the 26th and 27th and damaged garden growth.

Sunshine.--Sunshine was appreciably better than average from Auckland northwards and in Westland. Values were near normal in the Manawatu, on the Canterbury Plains, and in Southland. Elsewhere totals were very low. For Hanmer and Lake Tekapo, with more than fifty hours short of the average, this was a record dull month.

Weather Sequence.--On the 1st a southerly change was advancing. The pressure gradient steepened with the extension towards Southland of an intense anticyclone and the arrival from the north of an extra-tropical depression, which was nearest East Cape on the 2nd. Central districts experienced strong south-easterly gales late on the 2nd and 3rd. There had been a period of rain in Canterbury, and rain spread also from the north-east over most of the North Island, heaviest falls being over the Auckland Peninsula and east of the main ranges. A secondary centre developing near North Cape on the 3rd was filling up over the Auckland Province the next day. Near Cook Strait south-easterlies continued fresh, the weather being dull in eastern and northern districts with occasional rain. West of the Alps and in Nelson it became fine. Several intense thunderstorms occurred in the North Island on the 6th.

Another low north-east of East Cape on the 6th and 7th, assisted by the intense anticyclone then south and east of Chatham Islands, caused an increase of rain in the Napier - East Cape region with severe flooding in places. Several localities reported twenty-four-hour falls in excess of 6 in. Conditions eased on the 8th and 9th, with easterly winds moderating. North-easterlies, however, were strong at times on the east coast of the South Island, where morning fog and drizzle occurred. Some isolated convective showers occurred during the afternoons in Auckland, Taranaki, and Nelson, but by the 10th it was fine almost generally. Cloud increased on the 11th.

On the 12th a disturbance which crossed New Zealand from the west was accompanied by a belt of rain and a change from north-easterlies to north-westerlies. A depression forming on this disturbance moved from North Cape to the south of New Zealand, when it was filling up on the 14th. North-westerly gales were experienced about Cook Strait, Westland, and Canterbury on the 13th, and showers persisted in western districts.

A disturbance developing west of Taranaki on the 15th was over Otago the next day and gave showers in most districts, these being rather heavy in South Auckland. The associated cold front was lying in a N.-S. line through the Bay of Plenty on the 16th, with a rain band extending to the eastward. A depression, which developed north of North Cape, moved past Gisborne on the 17th, and was very deep when near Chatham Islands on the 18th. This gave rain over most of the North Island, including heavy falls in the central and eastern portions. Southerly winds freshened temporarily in Cook Strait. In the south it had become predominantly fair, but the passage of a cold front from the south-west on the 18th gave a few showers. Under the influence of an intense anticyclone on the 19th the weather improved again, and continued settled from the 20th to the 22nd with some light frosts.

By the 23rd easterly winds had increased in the north, with brief gales in exposed localities. A tropical cyclone moved rapidly south-south-eastward keeping east of the Auckland Province, and then slowed up near Chatham Islands on the 24th. Most of the North Island experienced a period of rain which was heaviest on the east coast, especially so between Wairoa and East Cape, where some flooding resulted.

After a cold front, which advanced on the 25th, south-westerlies were fresh at times with changeable weather, scattered snow falling in the ranges and a period of rain occurred near Cook Strait. At Motukawa, twelve miles from Inglewood, a local whirlwind was experienced on the 26th. The weather improved on the 27th, an anticyclone being centred over the Tasman Sea and remained predominantly fine until the end of the month. However, there were brief periods of isolated showers, and on the 30th it was temporarily cloudy in eastern districts.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

Sitting of the Native Land Court at Hawera on the 2nd May, 1944

Native Land Court Office, Wanganui, 17th April, 1944.

NOTICE is hereby given that the applications, pursuant to section 104, Public Works Act, 1928, mentioned in the Schedule hereunder written will be heard by the Native Land Court sitting at Hawera on the 2nd May, 1944, or as soon thereafter as the business of the Court will allow.

[Aotea, 1944/45-2.]

L. J. BROOKER, Registrar.

SCHEDULE