68

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
[No. 3

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

LATE RETURNS

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 DECEMBER, 1946

General.—December was dull and cool, with fairly frequent showers in districts exposed to the south-west. This being the third consecutive month with subnormal temperatures, the season remains backward. The broken weather, especially in the latter portion, has delayed shearing, cultivation, and haymaking. It is reported that lambs are fattening well and that stock generally are thriving.

Rainfall.—Rainfall was slightly excessive in the Waikato, Northern Taranaki, the Horowhenua district, the Marlborough Sounds, and the Canterbury Plains, and more appreciably excessive on the West Coast of the South Island, in Southland, and in Stewart Island. Elsewhere there were deficiencies, these being most serious in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, where only about a third of the average rainfall was experienced. Parts of the east coast of the Auckland Peninsula, as well as plains of Nelson and Marlborough, received barely half their usual total.

There was a very wet spell in Westland and Buller from the 8th to the 10th. Rainfall was heavy on the 30th in Taranaki and western Wellington.

Temperatures.—Mean temperatures were generally about 2° F. below normal, but Hawke’s Bay had values more closely approaching normal.

There were some sharp frosts on the 4th, and a late frost on the 29th occurred in Wairarapa and Marlborough.

Sunshine.—Except in Hawke’s Bay, the duration of sunshine was below normal, and by the equivalent of an hour a day in most western and southern districts.

Weather Sequence.—An anticyclone, which was moving away to the north-east on the 1st, was followed by a frontal system associated with a depression which passed over the South Island. Most places had some light rain. It improved on the 3rd, an anticyclone centred to the north covering the country.

Early on the 5th a depression from Lord Howe Island passed south-eastward across North Auckland, while a cold front reached Cook Strait. Moderate rain fell in the Auckland Province, but only scattered amounts occurred elsewhere. An anticyclone soon advanced on to the South Island and later spread over the North Island, with fine weather generally.

A spell of north-westerly conditions commenced on the 6th, and rain became heavy on the west coast of the South Island between the 8th and 10th. Rain spread to most western districts as well as Southland and Otago. After a depression had moved south-eastward across the South Island on the 10th fresh south-westerlies soon prevailed, bringing scattered showers to both coasts and colder temperatures. As winds tended more westerly it had cleared by the 13th in the east, and only isolated showers occurred elsewhere. A wedge from a northern anticyclone covered New Zealand on the 14th with fair weather.

Disturbances were affecting only the far south-west, with occasional rain from the 14th to 16th in Westland, Otago, and Southland. The main trough began to travel eastward on the 18th accompanied by brief rain, and strong north-westerlies were replaced by fresh south-westerlies and mainly fair weather. An anticyclone was located to the north from the 20th to 23rd. The depressions were passing well to the south, and one cold front advanced on the 22nd but weakened. A secondary front followed on the 23rd, and with a depression deepening east of the South Island southerlies or south-westerlies became general. These brought a few showers and colder temperatures. The 25th was dull with occasional light rain, but conditions improved from the west the next day. A cold front on the 27th gave brief showers and a temporary freshening of the south-westerly winds. There was a further freshening during the 28th, after which an anticyclone centred to the north covered the country.

A warm front associated with a depression over the South Tasman Sea moved across the country, and freshening northerlies gave rain in most places, some heavy falls occurring in western districts from Auckland southwards. As the depression passed to the east, winds gradually backed to the south-west and conditions were changeable with scattered showers.

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 WEDNESDAY, 15TH JANUARY, 1947

Liabilities

£(N.Z.)129,324,721 4 11

Assets

£(N.Z.)129,324,721 4 11

• Expressed in New Zealand currency.

Proportion of reserve (No. 7 less No. 5) to notes and other demand liabilities, 76·775 per cent.

W. R. EGGERS, Chief Accountant.