1942
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
[No. 89

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—continued
Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for November, 1946—continued

LATE RETURNS

Golden Downs, July, 1946 | Ft. 900 | °F. 51·7 | °F. 30·9 | °F. 41·3 | +1·8 | °F. 57·0 | 14 | °F. 22·0 | 7 | In. 4·38 | 10 | +0·21 | In. 1·22 | 18 | ..
,, Aug., 1946 | 900 | 51·4 | 32·8 | 42·1 | —0·7 | 57·0 | 9 | 25·0 | 30, 31 | 6·94 | 19 | +2·14 | 0·96 | 12 | ..
,, Sept., 1946 | 900 | 59·4 | 34·5 | 48·0 | +1·6 | 67·0 | 14 | 25·0 | 2 | 2·81 | 8 | —1·25 | 1·04 | 24 | ..
,, Oct., 1946 | 900 | 61·0 | 36·1 | 48·6 | —2·0 | 70·5 | 15 | 29·2 | 3 | 8·80 | 10 | +4·68 | 2·45 | 2 | ..
Queenstown, Oct., 1946 | 1,100 | 56·8 | 39·3 | 48·0 | —2·3 | 71·6 | 14 | 32·2 | 7 | 5·79 | 19 | +3·12 | 1·92 | 15 | 161·8

NOTE.—At stations where departures from normal are in parentheses the record has been maintained for less than ten years in the case of temperatures and for less than twenty years in the case of rainfall and the normals are partly interpolated.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR NOVEMBER, 1946

General.—The past month was the coldest November on record. Another feature was its changeableness, there being a high number of rain-days but also a substantial sunshine total for most places. In general, temperatures were no warmer than in October (and in some instances they were slightly colder), so growth, especially in gardens, has been abnormally slow. Farm activities and production are backward. Fruit and vegetable crops suffered from several hailstorms and frosts in many districts. Stock appear to be thriving in spite of the unseasonable conditions prevailing. Better weather was being experienced towards the end of the month.

Rainfall.—The total rainfall recorded during the month was above average for districts north of Hamilton and Tauranga and also for the Wellington Province, especially on the Wairarapa side. In the centre of the North Island amounts were mostly below average. There was excessive rain in Canterbury, totals being over double the average in the Christchurch region. There were slight excesses in the Buller district and in parts of Southland. Most of the remainder of the South Island had deficient rainfall. Nelson had little more than half its usual total, and the same was true for most of North Otago.

There were more rain-days than usual, and several districts had rain each day until the 19th. Such was the case for Raurimu, Raetihi, and Pahiatua, which had then experienced an unbroken sequence of thirty-two or thirty-three rain-days, and also for Nugget Point, where the sequence had lasted twenty-two days.

Temperature.—Mean temperatures were much colder than normal, from which the departures were mainly between 3° F. and 6° F., Masterton and Hanmer having the largest values. Hitherto November, 1930, was the coldest November on record, but for the month just past temperatures were colder than the 1930 values by a further 1° in the North Island and 2° in the South Island. The 7th and 10th was a particularly severe spell, and considerable hail and snow fell and damaging frosts occurred.

Sunshine.—In spite of the coldness, the total duration of sunshine was at least the average and usually better. The Auckland district, Palmerston North, and the West Coast of the South Island were those most favoured.

Weather Sequence.—Cool south-westerlies were giving some isolated showers on the 1st and 2nd. A weak anticyclone passed southern New Zealand on the 3rd and a depression crossed North Auckland, rain being heaviest near Whangarei.

A frontal system associated with a depression to the south moved north-eastward over the country on the 4th and a secondary depression deepened east of Canterbury. West to south-west winds became strong, with cold changeable and showery conditions. Hail was prevalent between Timaru and Wellington. By the 6th a ridge from a northern anticyclone was extending over New Zealand, and frosts occurred in the South Island. A cold front began to advance over the South Island on the 7th accompanied by some snow and sleet. Pressure remained high to the west and became very low near Chatham Islands, and a very cold southerly current became general, with exceptionally unseasonable conditions. A depression which was deepening west of Nelson on the 11th crossed to the east of Gisborne early on the 13th, and was associated with unsettled weather in most places.

After a brief improvement a rapidly moving depression crossed the North Island on the 14th and gave rain in northern and central districts, with some flooding in North Auckland. Thereafter south-westerly winds predominated, the weather being changeable with occasional wintry showers and bright periods.

The weather became more settled on the 20th as an anticyclone moved slowly north-eastward across New Zealand. A deterioration occurred on the 22nd with an active depression from the North Tasman Sea approaching North Auckland, and widespread rain fell over the North Island. Conditions improved rapidly and the 23rd was fine. A cold front which passed on the 24th gave negligible rain, and ahead of it north-westerlies strengthened for a brief period. The weather was fair again on the 25th.

An anticyclone covering the North Island moved only slowly north-eastward, while disturbances passed to the south. Late on the 27th a wave depression passed Southland and heavy falls spread up the West Coast. North-westerlies were strong in many places. A second depression followed about twenty-four hours later, and most western districts had rain. Falls were heavy in the Tararua. Thereafter winds turned westerly or south-westerly and slowly decreased, while the weather became more settled.

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, 9TH DECEMBER, 1946

• Expressed in New Zealand currency.

Proportion of reserve (No. 7 less No. 5) to notes and other demand liabilities, 78·046 per cent.

W. R. EGGERS, Chief Accountant.