May 24]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR APRIL, 1945

General.—A very strong persistence of westerly or south-westerly conditions, especially after the 13th April, determined the characteristics of the month. The weather generally was very changeable and rather cool. Showery periods occurred with greatest frequency in Westland and Southland, while eastern and northern districts had extended bright intervals and at Tokomaru Bay only two days experienced rain. Winds were often very strong. The continued absence of good autumn rains east of the North Island ranges is causing concern regarding winter feed, and the situation in the Gisborne district has become very serious. In other parts of the country the feed supply is satisfactory, and stock on the whole are in good condition to face the coming winter. As in the preceding month conditions were adverse for harvesting in Southland.

Rainfall.—All districts exposed to the west or south-west from Stewart Island north to Manukau Harbour, as well as most of Otago, had surplus rain, the percentage excess being greatest about New Plymouth, in Southland, and eastern Otago. Other districts had deficiencies. Between Hastings and East Cape most totals were rather less than a quarter of the normal for this month. Near Russell, Whakatane, Masterton, eastern Marlborough, and Timaru the amount of rain was of the order of half the normal or less.

Temperatures.—In most cases the mean temperature was below normal, but by insignificant amounts in eastern districts from Timaru northward. South of New Plymouth on the west coasts departures were about 1° F. There were frosts on several occasions, those on the 27th being particularly sharp and widespread.

Sunshine.—Westport, Westland, and Southland received much less sunshine than usual. South Canterbury, Marlborough, and the east coast of the North Island had more than normal, but Gisborne was the only place with a large excess.

Weather Sequence.—On the 1st an anticyclone was giving settled weather over the North Island, but a frontal zone was causing some rain in southern districts. This was followed by an anticyclone passing eastward. By the 3rd pressure had become very high to the east, and, with the slow approach of a trough, fresh northerlies brought occasional rain, heaviest in Westland. Southern districts experienced a clearance on the 4th and 5th. Rain, however, became heavy in many western districts later on the 5th, and shortly after a depression passed south-eastward over the South Island. The original trough then moved to the north-east of the North Island, while a new cold front advanced from the south. The latter gave a few showers, then fine but colder weather prevailed. An anticyclone was over the South Island on the 8th. It moved east of the North Island on the 10th when, with an active trough approaching, northerlies increased and rain spread from the far south-west. Late on the 10th falls were heavy in Westland and on the 11th Taranaki had heavy rain, but amounts were more moderate over Auckland the next day. Very little fell in eastern districts.

With a cold front moving north-eastward over the whole country during the 13th and early 14th westerly winds turned temporarily more to the south-west, and most districts had some showers. A similar front passed late on the 15th and 16th. Pressure continued high over the northern Tasman Sea, and the next front crossing Southland on the 17th weakened before it reached the North Island the next day. The anticyclone over the Tasman became more extensive, and fairly settled weather prevailed. A weak front in the south-westerly current on the 20th gave a few showers, chiefly in the South Island, but the anticyclone gave favourable conditions on the next two days. Then another weak front passed over the South Island, and was followed by a slight anticyclone cell and there was a little drizzle.

A series of troughs associated with a very low-pressure system to the far south affected the country. The first reached south-western New Zealand early on the 24th, and gave heavy rain west of the Alps and moderate amounts elsewhere in the west. This was followed eighteen hours later by another, which gave a brief change of winds to the south-west and a few showers. South-westerlies strengthened considerably on the 26th, and were accompanied by squally showers including scattered thunder and hail. Showers persisted most in Westland and Southland and eastern Otago, but wind and showers decreased gradually (the 27th being a frosty morning in many places) and on the 28th it became fair generally. A cold front on the 29th gave showers, again chiefly in western and southern districts, and these became very isolated on the 30th.

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, 7TH MAY, 1945

Liabilities

1. General Reserve Fund ... ... ... £ s. d. ... 1,500,000 0 0
2. Bank-notes ... ... ... ... 40,316,769 0 0
3. Demand liabilities—
   (a) State ... ... ... ... 14,448,960 12 7
   (b) Banks ... ... ... ... 39,626,825 16 2
   (c) Other ... ... ... ... 1,457,859 9 5
4. Time deposits ... ... ... ...
5. Liabilities in currencies other than New Zealand currency ... ... ... ... ... 207,043 15 5
6. Other liabilities ... ... ... ... ... 2,433,630 18 9

£(N.Z.)99,991,089 12 4

Assets

7. Reserve—
   (a) Gold ... ... ... ... ... 2,801,877 10 0
   (b) Sterling exchange* ... ... ... 52,536,874 9 5
   (c) Gold exchange ... ... ...
8. Subsidiary coin ... ... ... ... ... 35,416 14 10
9. Discounts—
   (a) Commercial and agricultural bills ... ...
   (b) Treasury and local-body bills ... ...
10. Advances—
    (a) To the State or State undertakings—
    (1) Marketing Department ... ... 2,141,243 1 0
    (2) For other purposes ... ... ... 27,000,000 0 0
    (b) To other public authorities ... ...
    (c) Other ... ... ... ...
11. Investments ... ... ... ... ... 14,325,076 19 1
12. Bank buildings ... ... ... ...
13. Other assets ... ... ... ... ... 1,150,600 18 0

£(N.Z.)99,991,089 12 4

• Expressed in New Zealand currency.

Proportion of reserve (No. 7 less No. 5) to notes and other demand liabilities, 57·518 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, 14TH MAY, 1945

Liabilities

1. General Reserve Fund ... ... ... £ s. d. ... 1,500,000 0 0
2. Bank-notes ... ... ... ... 40,582,636 10 0
3. Demand liabilities—
   (a) State ... ... ... ... 13,649,943 2 5
   (b) Banks ... ... ... ... 42,564,334 4 11
   (c) Other ... ... ... ... 1,407,796 5 4
4. Time deposits ... ... ... ...
5. Liabilities in currencies other than New Zealand currency ... ... ... ... ... 113,081 14 7
6. Other liabilities ... ... ... ... ... 2,457,288 15 11

£(N.Z.)102,275,080 13 2

Assets

7. Reserve—
   (a) Gold ... ... ... ... ... 2,801,877 10 0
   (b) Sterling exchange* ... ... ... 52,352,683 17 2
   (c) Gold exchange ... ... ...
8. Subsidiary coin ... ... ... ... ... 32,999 5 1
9. Discounts—
   (a) Commercial and agricultural bills ... ...
   (b) Treasury and local-body bills ... ...
10. Advances—
    (a) To the State or State undertakings—
    (1) Marketing Department ... ... 4,425,039 18 6
    (2) For other purposes ... ... ... 27,000,000 0 0
    (b) To other public authorities ... ...
    (c) Other ... ... ... ...
11. Investments ... ... ... ... ... 14,325,076 19 1
12. Bank buildings ... ... ... ...
13. Other assets ... ... ... ... ... 1,337,403 3 4

£(N.Z.)102,275,080 13 2

• Expressed in New Zealand currency.

Proportion of reserve (No. 7 less No. 5) to notes and other demand liabilities, 56·048 per cent.

W. R. EGGERS, Chief Accountant.