THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR AUGUST, 1944

General.-August had no very severe weather, and there was less wind and more cloud than usual in most districts. It has completed what has been a fairly easy winter for stock, which are in very good condition. Lambing has commenced with favourable weather, but some small losses resulted from the wet southerly in the Wairarapa on the 19th and from the rain at the close of the month on parts of the Marlborough coast. Cultivation in some places has been prevented by the wetness of the ground and the absence of drying winds.

Rainfall.-The month's totals showed many variations. The more conspicuous excesses occurred in Nelson and Marlborough, between Tauranga and Napier, and locally near Wellington City, and Balclutha. There was some minor flooding near Napier on the 20th. The drier areas included Patea, Wanganui, Timaru, Oamaru, and the Province of Westland.

Temperature.-Departures of mean temperature values from normal were not very significant. Values were slightly below normal in the north-west and far south of the North Island, also in Marlborough, and rather more so about Christchurch and mid-Canterbury. Elsewhere temperatures were milder than usual, the highest departures occurring at Gisborne. Most places experienced a few sharp frosts.

Sunshine.-While in Westland and to the east of the North Island ranges sunshine was above normal, totals were deficient elsewhere. At Wanganui and Wellington the values were more than one hour per day below normal. Gisborne had the highest total of 195.9 hours.

Weather Sequence.-After a depression moved east of Southland a cold front advanced on the 2nd and 3rd, bringing a change from strong north-westerlies to moderate southerlies. At first there was extensive rain in Westland, Otago, and Southland, but further north the amounts were smaller, except near the path of a depression which moved along the front across South Auckland and later deepened as it moved towards Chatham Islands. Conditions gradually improved from the south and west.

On a cold front which reached central New Zealand on the 6th a slight disturbance developed west of Taranaki and caused some rain over most of the North Island. A more vigorous front crossing the South Island on the 7th brought strong south-westerlies with showers, including some snow and hail in Southland, but there was a clearance that evening. On the 8th and 9th fresh westerlies gave isolated showers in the west, but fine weather predominated.

A rapidly moving cold front on the 10th and 11th gave a temporary south-westerly change, with a period of rain in Westland and brief showers elsewhere. An anticyclone then moved on to southern New Zealand and became more extensive. This was associated with a settled spell with several frosty nights, until it moved off to the north-east on the 17th, when a shallow disturbance was giving rain in the far south as well as cloudy skies generally. Conditions deteriorated on the 18th in all western districts, and thereafter an anticyclone extended towards the South Island and a depression travelled south-eastward across the North Island. Southerlies became strong in central districts and rain occurred there and northward with several heavy falls, especially in the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay. There was an early improvement over most of the Auckland Province.

By the 22nd an anticyclone over the Tasman was causing a more general improvement, temperatures, however, being cold. On the 24th there were a few brief showers with a cold front, but an improvement soon followed.

On the 27th and 28th a depression was moving from the north-west towards Westland, and rain spread from the far north to the central provinces. This disturbance, after partly filling up, remained stationary, there being much cloud and at times fog with drizzle, which was very persistent in the Nelson Province.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF THE RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND AS AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON MONDAY,

11TH SEPTEMBER, 1944

*Expressed in New Zealand currency.

Proportion of reserve (No. 7 less No. 5) to notes and other demand liabilities, 41.855 per cent.

W. R. EGGERS, Chief Accountant.

RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF THE RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND AS AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON MONDAY,

18TH SEPTEMBER, 1944

*Expressed in New Zealand currency.

Proportion of reserve (No. 7 less No. 5) to notes and other demand liabilities, 42.446 per cent.

W. R. EGGERS, Chief Accountant.