930

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

[No. 64

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JUNE, 1944

General.—June was cold and often frosty. There was a marked prevalence of south-westerly weather in which cool winds fluctuated between west and south-west giving mixed weather, showers being followed, especially in eastern districts, by bright clear periods. Stock are wintering unusually well and are still benefiting from the good autumn growth. Fine spells have enabled further wheat to be sown in Canterbury.

Rainfall.—Precipitation was mostly of a showery nature. The areas receiving excessive and deficient totals were about equal. In the North Island, moderate excesses occurred towards the west coast from Foxton northwards, but elsewhere rainfall was below average, being very light east of the main ranges and most noticeably so near Castlepoint. In the South Island, totals south of Westport and Ashburton were above normal, the largest percentage departures occurring between the Waitaki River and Stewart Island. Over most of Marlborough falls were only about half the normal.

Temperature.—Except in isolated eastern districts, temperatures were below normal. Outside those districts fully exposed to the south-west, frosts were numerous and at times hard. On several occasions the ranges of both Islands as well as some low levels in the South Island experienced falls of snow. Hail showers were fairly frequent.

Sunshine.—In Taranaki, Westland, and Southland sunshine totals were somewhat below average, but elsewhere they were above. Most places between Christchurch and Gisborne had the equivalent of at least an hour’s extra sunshine per day. Gisborne, which enjoyed 193·4 hours, had a record value.

Weather Sequence.—On the 1st a deep depression moving eastward from East Cape was giving rain between Masterton and Opotiki. A series of south-westerly depressions began to pass in the south, the first members weakening rapidly after reaching Dunedin. Conditions were windy and showery at times in western and southern districts, but elsewhere showers were brief. The depression on the 6th remained more vigorous and, as a centre moved east of the South Island towards Chatham Islands, south-westerlies became strong and most districts had passing wintry showers, with snow in some of the southern towns.

A wedge from the Australian high was over New Zealand on the 9th and 10th when, except at first in the Auckland Province, conditions were settled with widespread sharp frosts.

Another south-westerly series developed, and between the 11th and 13th affected chiefly Westland and Southland. On the 14th an anticyclone began to extend across the northern Tasman to northern New Zealand, so that winds moderated and fine weather predominated.

A period of rain fell in western districts of the South Island, and north-westerlies increased to gale force about Cook Strait ahead of a pressure trough which crossed most of New Zealand on the 16th. A depression which developed on this trough moved south-eastward across Westland and Canterbury on the 18th. Except east of the ranges, most districts received appreciable rain.

An anticyclone moved past northern New Zealand on the 19th, while a depression passed to the south. Another depression crossed central New Zealand on the 21st and continued to deepen. Strong southerlies advanced and showery periods occurred in most districts, with snow on the ranges and also to low levels in the south. Rain was heavy on the east coast of the South Island, with some flooding south of Dunedin.

The south-westerly type of situation again prevailed, conditions being changeable but with bright periods; showers were most persistent in Southland. A small anticyclone passed in the north on the 25th and a trough advanced in the south, north-westerlies strengthened temporarily in central districts. A second trough followed closely but weakened, and a wedge from the anticyclone centred over Victoria covered the South Island on the 28th. A depression to the north gave some rain in the Auckland Province, but the weather had become fine almost generally by the morning of the 30th. However, that evening a deep trough reached Southland and made very rapid progress, bringing strong south-westerlies and very wintry showers.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

Abstract of Railways Working Account

FOUR-WEEKLY PERIOD ENDED 24TH JUNE, 1944

1st APRIL, 1944, TO 24TH JUNE, 1944

ANALYSIS OF RAILWAY OPERATING REVENUE AND TRAFFIC

ANALYSIS OF RAILWAY OPERATING EXPENDITURE

Capital cost of open lines as at 31st March, 1944 £ 70,999,125

Officiating Ministers for 1944.—Notice No. 20

Registrar-General’s Office,
Wellington, 25th July, 1944.

PURSUANT to the provisions of the Marriage Act, 1908, the following names of officiating ministers within the meaning of the said Act are published for general information :—

The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
The Reverend Gwilym Trevor Hughes.
The Reverend Hessell William Forster Troughton.

P. H. WYLDE, Deputy Registrar-General.

Economic Stabilization Emergency Regulations 1942.—Wartime Price Index

IN accordance with Regulation 41 of the Economic Stabilization Emergency Regulations 1942, it is hereby notified that the wartime price index as at the 15th day of June, 1944 (on base: 15th December, 1942 = 1000), was 1001. This figure indicates that, after seasonal adjustment has been made in respect of certain commodities the prices of which are subject to seasonal movement, the general level of prices of commodities, &c., included in the wartime price index was 0·1 per cent. higher at 15th June, 1944, than at 15th December, 1942.

J. W. BUTCHER, Government Statistician.
Wellington, 26th July, 1944.