442
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
[No. 20

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—continued
Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for March, 1945—continued

LATE RETURNS

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR MARCH, 1945

General.—Westerly weather was much more prevalent during March than in recent months so that eastern districts were rather dry, sunny, and mild, while elsewhere rain was fairly frequent with cool temperatures and only average sunshine. Condition have continued very favourable for dairy-farming in Auckland, Taranaki, and the Manawatu. In Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay the hill country is parched, but the dry weather has assisted harvesting. Most South Island farming districts report fairly satisfactory conditions, although a predominance of showery weather made it a poor month for Southland.

Rainfall.—Rainfall was above normal from the Waikato southwards to Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds, also about and west of the southern high country, as well as over Southland and northward of Timaru. Elsewhere, rainfall was generally deficient. This feature was most marked between East Cape and Waipukurau, but rainfalls were also below half the average near Russell and Waihi. The more important thunderstorms were those late on the 4th from Cook Strait to the Manawatu, one in Central Otago on 16th, and several in Southland on the 20th.

Temperatures.—Temperatures were slightly above normal at Gisborne, Napier, and Timaru, otherwise they were cooler than usual, the departures increasing towards the west in some cases to 2° F. Most districts experienced a few light frosts.

Sunshine.—Sunshine was in contrast to the previous month, conspicuously better than normal. Between Wellington and Timaru the surplus was fifty hours or more. It was a record sunny March for Canterbury, while for Christchurch this was the sunniest of any month for at least seventeen years.

Weather Sequence.—On the 1st a depression was located to the south, and as the associated trough passed eastward over the country northerly winds with rain were giving place to fairer westerly conditions. During the 2nd a depression began to develop off Canterbury, and the south-westerly change brought showers up the east coast to the Wairarapa by the 4th. There were, however, fine periods generally.

On the 6th, as a depression from the north was passing off the Southern Sounds region, fresh north-westerlies prevailed with a short period of general light rain. It soon cleared in the south, while some occasional rain continued over the North Island, being heaviest in the central portion. The south-eastward passage of another depression across the South Island during the night of the 7th was associated with considerable rain in central districts and brief falls elsewhere, but conditions improved on the 8th.

Early on the 9th a depression passed off south-western New Zealand, and in the following forty-eight hours its cold front moved north-eastward over the country, giving moderate rainfalls in western districts. A shallow depression moving from North Cape to beyond East Cape gave some rain near its path on the 12th.

A series of deep westerly depressions passed to the south between the 13th and 15th, when there were north-westerly gales in many districts. Rain was fairly general, with some substantial falls in and west of the Alps. Some snow fell on the ranges. Showers persisted longest in Southland, but the weather gradually became fine as an anticyclone covered the South Island on the 18th and the whole country on the 19th.

Except in Southland and Westland, the next trough passing on the 20th and 21st caused negligible rain, and a new anticyclone covering New Zealand on the 22nd brought settled weather again.

Between the 23rd and 26th a series of westerly disturbances with centres far to the south caused rain at times in Westland and Southland, while there were strong north-westerlies, especially about Cook Strait. The final cold front crossing on the 27th and 28th brought a southerly change with general showers. A clearance spread from the west and fine anticyclone conditions prevailed on the 29th and 30th. Thereafter, a weak disturbance gave overcast skies in the South Island with scattered rain, heavy only in South Westland.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

Public Trust Office Act, 1908, and its Amendments.—Election to administer Estates

NOTICE is hereby given that the Public Trustee has filed in the Supreme Court an election to administer in respect of the several estates of the persons deceased whose names, residences, and occupations (so far as known) are hereunder set forth:—

Public Trust Office, Wellington, 16th April, 1945.
W. G. BAIRD, Public Trustee.