JULY 25] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1033

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JUNE, 1946

General.—Several periods of north-easterly weather made June a dull wet month for eastern districts. The abnormalities were of a similar character to those experienced in May. As temperatures were rather mild, grass growth was still evident. However, frosts about the 7th, 8th, and 9th were widespread and unusually sharp, and affected shrubs which had escaped damage for several seasons past. Stock are wintering well, and the fodder position continues satisfactory.

Rainfall.—Totals were excessive over the Auckland Peninsula, where there was flooding on the 23rd and 24th. Amounts were substantial about the Bay of Plenty and were heavy in Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and Wairarapa. Exposed localities of these districts experienced a very wet six days at the close of the month—for example, Wharerata received 21·03 in. and Maraetotara 14·23 in. during the period. Moderate surpluses occurred in South Taranaki and the Manawatu, while rainfall was deficient between Auckland and New Plymouth, being only about half the average near Hamilton.

Rainfall was appreciably above the average between Kaikoura and Oamaru, but was below over most other parts of the South Island, the Wairau Valley, and much of Southland receiving about half the usual total.

Temperatures.—Mean temperatures over the North Island and Nelson Province were mostly 1° or 2° F. above normal. Elsewhere the values were nearer normal, and in the case of Canterbury they were very slightly below normal. At Alexandra and Ophir the temperatures remained below freezing point throughout the 23rd, during which the maximum values were 26·2° F. and 27·7° F. respectively.

Sunshine.—Although average durations were reached west of the Southern Alps, the remainder of New Zealand experienced a dull month. Totals were outstandingly poor in the Gisborne area, Hawke’s Bay, and the Bay of Plenty, where the Tauranga value was sixty hours below normal.

Weather Sequence.—On the 1st the weather was fair, apart from heavy showers in the Gisborne district caused by a depression travelling south from Kermadec Islands. A depression from the central Tasman Sea gave rain in Westland and Nelson, and its associated trough brought brief showers as it crossed the North Island. The first depression became very deep when near Chatham Islands, and with an intense anticyclone to the south-west of the Dominion strong southerlies were becoming general on the 3rd with much colder temperatures and showery conditions in eastern districts. However, a ridge of high pressure spreading over the country from the anticyclone remaining in the south-west brought a clearance on the 4th to all but the north-eastern districts. Early on the 5th a depression passed rapidly eastward past the north of the Auckland Peninsula, where there were easterly gales for a period with heavy rain. Southerlies then strengthened south of East Cape, with occasional showers along the east coast. It was continuing fine east of the Alps, and by the 6th the clearance was spreading over most of the country, but this was not complete at Gisborne until the 8th. By then the anticyclone had moved north-eastward and was centrally over the Dominion. About this time sharp frosts were widespread.

A depression to the north-west of Auckland caused a deterioration from the 9th, when north-easterly gales developed, with widespread rain extending over the northern half of the North Island, and as the depression travelled southward most other districts had some rain. With the approach and passage of a trough from the Tasman on the 11th and 12th rain fell in western districts, and the ensuing south-westerly change gave a few showers elsewhere. By the 13th winds were westerly again with mainly fair weather.

The cold front of a depression immediately south of New Zealand moved slowly north-eastward over the country between the 14th and 16th and brought a period of rain or drizzle, but a clearance followed. An anticyclone over the Tasman was extending on to New Zealand, but its centre passed to the north on the 18th. To the south there were slight disturbances affecting mainly Westland and Southland before an anticyclonic cell moved on to the South Island on the 19th.

A secondary cold front reached Cook Strait early on the 20th, when a shallow depression was west of Auckland. Skies were overcast in the North Island with scattered rains, but an intense anticyclone from the south-west was bringing a clearance to southern and later central New Zealand.

North-easterly winds reached gale force north of Auckland on the 22nd, heavy rain occurring over the northern half of the North Island and scattered amounts spread down the east coast to Christchurch. Pressure continued low in the central Tasman Sea and high to the east of the South Island. North-easterlies predominated with occasional rains in most districts, heaviest falls being in the Auckland Peninsula. The low-pressure area was passing there on the 27th, and with the development of a new and active centre southerly or south-easterly winds set in on the 28th, and there was extensive rain over the North Island and the east coast of the South. A cold front was advancing from the south and soon temperatures became much colder, and southerly gales were experienced in central districts. Although the weather continued fine in Westland and soon improved in Southland as an anticyclone passed eastward it continued showery elsewhere.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

Licenses issued to Manufacturing Retailers under the Sales Tax Act, 1932–33

Customs Department,
Wellington, 17th July, 1946.

IT is hereby notified for public information that licenses to act as manufacturing retailers under the Sales Tax Act, 1932–33, have been issued to the undermentioned persons, firms, and companies carrying on business at the places stated.

D. G. SAVERS, Comptroller of Customs.