1440

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

[No. 91]

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR OCTOBER, 1944

General.—October was a cool and windy month with very changeable weather conditions. There were no really settled spells, although conditions were fairly pleasant in some of the eastern districts sheltered from the prevailing north-westerly winds. In the main northern dairying districts pastures are showing good growth, but in the South Island growth generally is later than usual and cultivation is rather backward.

Rainfall.—The variations of the month’s rainfall totals from normal were complex. The drier part of the North Island extended from the Wairarapa northward, including most of the central high country to Opotiki and beyond Gisborne. Several places near the east coast received less than half the usual October fall. The remainder of the island was wetter than usual, very noticeably so over most of Auckland, Taranaki, and near Wellington City. Near Opunake totals were well over double the average. Nelson and most of Marlborough Provinces, as well as the far south-west corner of the South Island, had excess rain. Other parts of the South Island were drier than usual, the percentage deficiencies being greatest near Timaru and Owaka.

Temperature.—Mean temperatures were slightly above normal between Ashburton and Christchurch, and rather more so in the more northern and eastern portions of the North Island, the departure being about 2° F. near Hastings. Elsewhere, it was cooler than usual, there being departures of over 2° F. in Nelson, Dunedin, and Central Otago.

A good deal of snow fell in the southern ranges, hail showers were not infrequent, and most districts had several frosts. Central Otago orchards suffered frost damage on the 14th.

Sunshine.—Sunshine was exceptionally good at Timaru. Most places lying well to the east of the Alps, as well as in Wairarapa and Gisborne and North Auckland, received slight excesses. Elsewhere there were some poor totals. Amongst those receiving less than the equivalent of an hour a day below the average were New Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson, Hokitika, and Lake Tekapo.

Weather Sequence.—On the 2nd an anticyclone moved eastward off New Zealand and a tropical depression approached Auckland, passing it early on the 3rd and Chatham Islands twenty-four hours later. In northern districts north-easterlies became strong, then backed westerly and decreased. Heavy rain occurred in North Auckland, but to the south amounts became lighter and more scattered. Another depression west of Auckland on the 4th remained in the area, filling up on the 7th, while a weak anticyclone was situated east of the South Island. It was mostly fair in Westland and Southland; but occasional rain occurred elsewhere, being heaviest near Auckland but slowly decreasing.

On the 8th a cold front moved north-eastward over New Zealand. Westland and Southland experienced a short period of moderate rain, but showers elsewhere were mainly light, and conditions improved temporarily as a high-pressure ridge passed.

Westerly depressions soon set in, one associated cold front passed over the South Island during the 9th and 10th, north-westerlies being strong or gale force at times in central and southern districts, with rain in Westland. Another cold front crossed the South Island on the 11th, with some further north-west gales ahead of it. A depression developed on this front and crossed south-eastward across the middle of the South Island on the 12th. Rain occurred in many western districts and was heavy in the ranges. Finally, the cold south-westerly change brought showers up the east coast and snow to the ranges. With an anticyclone advancing on to northern New Zealand on the 13th winds moderated in the evening, causing very sharp frosts overnight in Central Otago.

A very marked pressure trough passed from the west on the 15th accompanied by some heavy showers, north-westerlies being strong at times in many places. A high-pressure wedge following gave a brief improvement on the 16th.

A depression from the Central Tasman Sea deepened on the 18th in the Southland region and then moved rapidly away to the south-east. There were north-westerly gales from Taranaki southward, with rather heavy rain in the southern high country. Another depression from near Lord Howe Island was west of the North Island on the 19th, remaining there until it filled up on the 23rd. Its associated cold front was almost stationary over the centre of the country on the 19th, giving heavy rain, and heavy falls also occurred further to the north where strong north-easterlies prevailed. Apart from some thunderstorms on the 22nd conditions were finally improving in the north on the 22nd and 23rd. On the latter date a cold front began to cross New Zealand, bringing fresh south-westerlies and some showers to most districts, while scattered thunderstorms occurred in the ranges. An anticyclone following intensified over the Dominion, so that settled weather prevailed by the 25th.

By the 27th there was much drizzle and fog in the west, especially between Nelson and the Waikato. Ahead of a cold front associated with a deep depression passing far to the south on the 28th, north-westerlies increased, and overnight there were widespread gales, these being unusually strong in Marlborough, where hundreds of trees were uprooted. The rainfall, except in the more exposed localities, was only light or moderate. During the 29th the weather cleared considerably, winds moderating sufficiently to give moderate frosts in several districts that night. On the 30th an anticyclone was approaching, giving fair weather except for a slight deterioration about Southland on the 31st as westerly depressions passed far to the south.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

Notices under the Regulations Act, 1936

NOTICE is hereby given in pursuance of the Regulations Act, 1936, of the making of regulations and orders as under :-

Copies can be purchased at the Government Printing and Stationery Office, Lambton Quay, Wellington. Prices for quantities supplied on application. Copies may be ordered by quoting serial number.

E. V. PAUL, Government Printer.

The National Service Emergency Regulations 1940.—Notice under Regulation 19 requiring Men, who have been called up for Service with the Armed Forces, to report

I, ALBERT EDWARD CONWAY, Adjutant-General, New Zealand Military Forces, and an authorized officer for the purpose of the above-mentioned regulations, do hereby give notice, pursuant to the provisions of Regulation 19 of the said regulations, that the men whose names, addresses, and descriptions are given in the Schedule attached (being men who have been called up in accordance with the said regulation for service with the Armed Forces), are required to report at the respective times and places shown in the said Schedule.

Dated at Wellington, this 22nd day of November, 1944.

A. E. CONWAY (Brigadier), Adjutant-General, N.Z. Military Forces,

Authorized Officer for the purpose of the National Service Emergency Regulations 1940.

SCHEDULE