CLIMATOLCICAL TABLE—continued
Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for September, 1944—continued
| Station. | Height of Station above M.S.L. | Means of Air Temperatures in Degrees (Fahrenheit). | Absolute Maximum and Minimum. | Rainfall in Inches. | Bright Sun-shine (Hours). |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | | Mean of A and B | Difference from Normal. | Total Fall. | No. of Wet Days. | Difference from Normal. | Most in a Day. | Amount. | Date. |
| | | Max. | Min. | | Maximum. | Date. | Minimum. | Date. | In. | | | | | |
| Milford Sound, July, 1944 | 20 | 49·9 | 35·9 | 42·9 | +2·0 | 55·2 | 7 | 28·6 | 6 | 16·39 | 18 | .. | 2·98 | 9 | .. |
| Milford Sound, Aug., 1944 | 20 | .. | 35·5 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 29·0 | 5,13 | 11·30 | 13 | .. | 2·64 | 8 | .. |
| Manorburn Dam, Aug., 1944 | 2,448 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1·11 | .. | +0·01 | .. | .. | .. |
LATE RETURNS—continued
NOTE.—At stations where departure from normal are in parentheses the record has been maintained for less than ten years in the case of temperatures and for less than twenty years in the case of rainfall and the normals are partly interpolated.
NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR SEPTEMBER, 1944
General.—The chief variations of September's weather from normality were the number of cool nights and the lightness of the rainfall totals over most of the North Island. Moderate south-westerly or westerly conditions predominated, but with some windy spells. Pasture-growth was retarded, but grass was coming away better towards the close of the month. Lambing percentages are reported to be very good, and the spells of bad weather have been too brief to cause any appreciable losses. Stock generally are in excellent condition.
Rainfall.—Rain was of fairly frequent occurrence, but the majority of the totals were deficient. These were about half the average or less for North Auckland, eastern districts from Thames to Waipawa, and from the Waitaki River to Dunedin. Some excesses occurred in the high country of Taranaki and Wellington, while more conspicuous excesses occurred in and west of the main southern ranges. The Canterbury values were near normal.
Temperatures.—Except in the more eastern parts of the North Island, mean temperatures were cooler than usual, but seldom by more than 1°F. Ground frosts were fairly numerous, and on several occasions there were scattered falls of snow on the higher country.
Sunshine.—Sunshine totals were below average for the South Island and also for the Wanganui-Manawatu region. From Christchurch southward the deficiencies for the month were about twenty hours. Most of the North Island had figures a little better than average, Napier and Tauranga, with totals of 213·8 and 210·8 hours respectively, being the most outstanding.
Weather Sequence.—A slow-moving depression was giving drizzle and rain chiefly in the central provinces on the 1st, but also further north when it passed eastward on the 2nd. With an anticyclone advancing in the north conditions improved from the west. During the 4th, however, a cold front moved steadily north-eastward across New Zealand bringing a band of rain, but an improvement soon followed. A further cold front passed on the 6th and 7th accompanied by a southerly squall and a few showers, but again there was a quick clearance.
Pressure continued high to the north, while troughs advancing from the south-west on the 8th and 9th weakened as they crossed the country. These, however, resulted in west or south-west winds reaching gale force in several districts, and there were heavy rains about Westland and scattered falls elsewhere, including a little snow. A deep depression was approaching Westland on the 10th and moved east of New Zealand the next day. North-westerlies were strong at first in central districts and rain spread from the west, being rather intense for a short period about and north of the depression. Late on the 11th and 12th southerlies advanced with showery weather, some snow falling in the high country. Secondary cold fronts passed on the 13th and 14th, giving brief showers and fairly low temperatures generally. It was becoming milder on the 15th when a high-pressure wedge extended southward over New Zealand.
With a trough arriving on the 16th, winds changed from north-west to west, and later, behind a secondary, to south-west.
There were showery periods and snow fell on the ranges. The centre of a low-pressure system crossing the middle of the Dominion on the night of the 17th was associated with some heavy rain, and thereafter cold southerlies became general.
An anticyclone in the northern Tasman Sea brought an improvement which gradually extended north-eastward, conditions being generally fair by the 20th. Thereafter, a series of troughs from the south-west gave occasional showers. During the 24th an anticyclone moved on to New Zealand and conditions were more settled, but in the south disturbances which rapidly weakened gave temporary deteriorations. A cold front on the 27th and 28th brought fresh south-westerlies and colder temperatures, most parts experiencing a period of rain. An anticyclone followed with fine settled weather over the last two days of the month.
M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.
Abstract of Railways Working Account
FOUR-WEEKLY PERIOD ENDED 16TH SEPTEMBER, 1944
| Section. | Revenue. | Expenditure. | Net Revenue. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| £ | £ | £ |
| North Island main line and branches | 594,308 | 523,190 | 71,118 |
| South Island main line and branches | 320,406 | 320,278 | 128 |
| Nelson | 1,338 | 2,612 | -1,274 |
| Picton | 7,257 | 7,807 | -550 |
| Total railway operation | 923,309 | 853,887 | 69,422 |
| Miscellaneous and subsidiary services | 143,713 | 111,154 | 32,559 |
| Total | 1,067,022 | 965,041 | 101,981 |
1ST APRIL, 1944, TO 16TH SEPTEMBER, 1944
| Revenue. | Expenditure. | Net Revenue. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| £ | £ | £ |
| North Island main line and branches | 3,567,621 | 3,170,254 | 397,367 |
| South Island main line and branches | 1,881,964 | 1,887,410 | -5,446 |
| Nelson | 7,072 | 14,908 | -7,836 |
| Picton | 39,890 | 41,218 | -1,328 |
| Total railway operation | 5,496,547 | 5,113,790 | 382,757 |
| Miscellaneous and subsidiary services | 845,621 | 658,351 | 187,270 |
| Total | 6,342,168 | 5,772,141 | 570,027 |
ANALYSIS OF RAILWAY OPERATING REVENUE AND TRAFFIC
| Four-weekly Period. | Year to Date. |
| --- | --- |
| Passenger | £ | £ |
| Parcels, luggage, and mails | 32,225 | 186,465 |
| Goods | 633,888 | 3,789,502 |
| Labour and demurrage | 25,571 | 137,816 |
| Total railway operating revenue | 923,309 | 5,496,547 |
| Passengers | No. | |
| Live-stock | Tons | |
| Timber | 50,632 | 287,098 |
| Other goods | 598,910 | 3,545,708 |
| Total goods | 683,707 | 4,151,115 |
| Road Motor Services—Passengers | No. | |
| Revenue | £ | |
ANALYSIS OF RAILWAY OPERATING EXPENDITURE
| Four-weekly Period. | Year to Date. |
| --- | --- |
| Maintenance—Way and works | £ | £ |
| Signals and electrical appliances | 23,682 | 143,577 |
| Rolling-stock | 216,697 | 1,311,975 |
| Transportation—Locomotive | £ | £ |
| Traffic | 239,600 | 1,453,439 |
| General charges | 6,974 | 51,252 |
| Superannuation subsidy | 20,050 | 105,571 |
| Total operating expenditure | 853,887 | 5,113,790 |
| Net operating revenue | 69,422 | 382,757 |
| Total railway operating revenue | 923,309 | 5,496,547 |
Capital cost of open lines as at 31st March, 1944 | £ | £ |
| | 70,999,125 | |