Aug. 23] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1065

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

LATE RETURN

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JULY, 1945

General.—For most of the Dominion July was cold as well as fairly sunny and dry. North-westerly gales were widespread on the 13th, when plantations in parts of Canterbury were seriously damaged. At Wigram the highest gust recorded reached 92 m.p.h. Early on the 14th there was extensive snow in the South Island, with exceptional falls over Canterbury Province, where depths of 1 ft. to 2 ft. were not uncommon. Power and telephone lines were badly affected and transport was disorganized. Frosts followed, and snow persisted on the ground for about ten days in many places. Stock losses were probably considerable, and further adverse effects are likely to be noticed in the lambing season. Little farm activity was possible, and growth remains at a standstill.

Rainfall.—Most places received less than average rainfall. Central and southern Hawke’s Bay had totals a quarter to a half of the normal. Similar deficiencies occurred near Kaikoura and Dunedin. Most of the Bay of Plenty and scattered districts of Canterbury and Southland had slight excesses.

Temperatures.—For the third month in succession mean temperatures have been below normal. Departures were only about 1° F. in the North Island; but on the east coast of the South Island they were at least 2°, and were over 4° in parts of Canterbury. Christchurch and Ashburton experienced the coldest July for which records are available, and also on the 19th had the lowest minimum air temperatures. Frosts were more frequent and sharper than usual almost generally. The coldness of the month was due more to the frosty nights than to very cold day temperatures.

Sunshine.—With few exceptions the duration of bright sunshine was longer than usual, especially in eastern districts. Both Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury had more than the equivalent of an hour a day beyond the average.

Weather Sequence.—As an anticyclone moved away eastward fine weather was prevailing at first, except for scattered light rain in the Auckland Province. A cold front advancing during the 2nd and 3rd brought a change to moderate south-westerlies with a few showers. An anticyclone followed bringing an early clearance. Frosts were widespread.

As this anticyclone moved north-eastward on the 6th and 7th northerlies slowly freshened, while cloud increased from the south. A trough began to cross New Zealand on the 7th, and an associated depression moved south-eastward across the South Island on the 8th, while the trough continued eastward over the North Island. All districts received a period of rain. Winds turned to cold south-westerlies over the South Island on the 8th, and tended westerly in the north and later southerly as a depression developed to the north of East Cape. Scattered snow fell in the high country. The weather cleared from the west and south.

By the 12th an anticyclone was over the Northern Tasman, and, with winds tending westerly, showers developed along the windward coasts. Pressure fell rapidly to the south, a trough reaching Southland early on the 13th. Ahead north-westerlies were of gale force, attaining an unusual intensity for a period in Canterbury. Strong south-westerlies as they advanced brought very cold temperatures with showers of rain, hail, and snow, especially to the east coast. A depression which had developed south of Lord Howe Island passed across central New Zealand on the morning of the 14th. During the early hours snow fell steadily throughout Canterbury to depths exceeding 2 ft. in places. In Christchurch it was the heaviest fall for at least seventy-eight years. To the north there was a period of widespread rain.

A secondary cold front rapidly crossed the country on the 14th and 15th, changeable south-westerly conditions prevailing with some scattered brief snow in eastern districts up to Hawke’s Bay. The clearance was rapid as a wedge extended over New Zealand. This system intensified, and some very sharp frosts occurred with record minimum temperatures in Canterbury on the 19th. Meanwhile, depressions in the Norfolk Island region were giving cloud and scattered rain in the far north, but elsewhere fair conditions continued while the anticyclone moved very slowly east from the South Island. On the 23rd the depression which had remained in the north was off western Auckland. Rain became heavier in the Bay of Plenty—Rotorua region, and scattered falls spread southward to central districts.

A cold front passed across during the 25th and 26th. Most districts had moderate rain and the fresh south-westerly change was accompanied by some snow, more especially in Southland, Otago, and the Wairarapa. The early clearance in Westland was fairly general by the 27th. A weak secondary front gave a few showers next morning in the far south, and on the 29th an anticyclone centred in the North Tasman Sea was covering the Dominion. Frosts were very widespread over the North Island on the 30th.

A shallow trough was moving slowly eastward over New Zealand on the 31st, rain being mostly negligible except in parts of the Auckland Province.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

The Factory Controls Revocation Notice 1945 (No. 2)

PURSUANT to the Factory Emergency Regulations 1939, the Factory Controller doth hereby give notice as follows:—

1. This notice may be cited as the Factory Controls Revocation Notice 1945 (No. 2).
2. The Factory Controller hereby revokes the control notices referred to in the Schedule hereto, and any notices amending the same, which were issued by him under the said regulations.

SCHEDULE

Dated at Wellington, this 22nd day of August, 1945.

G. A. PASCOE, Factory Controller.