CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—continued

Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for October, 1949—continued

LATE RETURNS

| Te Paki, Te Hapua Sept., 1949 | 200 | 61·9 | 45·7 | 53·8 | -0·4 | 65·5 | 26 | 34·5 | 10 | 3·62 | 14 | (-1·23) | 1·70 | 12 | 162·0 |
| Waihi, Sept., 1949 | 300 | 60·0 | 43·4 | 51·7 | -0·1 | 66·3 | 14 | 30·0 | 30 | 6·60 | 14 | -0·19 | 2·20 | 17 | 146·4 |

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

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR OCTOBER, 1949

General.—October’s weather was exceptionally mild, with almost a complete absence of cold winds from a southerly quarter. The majority of depressions moved south-eastwards across the South Tasman Sea and passed either to the south of New Zealand or over the southern part of the country. The predominant north-westerly winds were responsible for frequent heavy rains in the west of the South Island ranges but warm dry weather in the east.

The mild winter and spring seasons have been very favourable for the dairying industry though more rain is urgently needed to maintain the present rate of production in the North Island. The growth of crops and pastures has been seriously affected in eastern districts from Hawke’s Bay to Canterbury, due to the low rainfall. The dryness of the ground has also delayed spring sowings.

Rainfall.—Over the greater part of the Dominion rainfall was well below the average, the deficiency being most marked in Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay. By contrast, rain was frequent about and west of the main South Island ranges and in Southland where the totals were much greater than the average.

It was the wettest month for many years in South Westland where several stations had rainfalls of over 40 in. At Waiho the month’s total was 45·93 in., of which 19·3 in. fell on the 5th. Such a high daily rainfall is rarely experienced in New Zealand. Only four higher values have previously been recorded, the highest being 22 in. at Milford Sound on 17th April, 1939.

Temperatures.—In mid-Canterbury mean temperatures were as much as 4 or 5 degrees above normal—higher than in any previous October since readings commenced over 80 years ago. In all other districts temperatures were above normal, so that on the whole this October was one of the warmest on record. October, 1915, was the last occasion when temperatures were as high at this time of the year.

Sunshine.—In Taranaki, Southland, and most of Otago, sunshine was about normal; in Westland and Central Otago it was appreciably below normal. Elsewhere there was a large excess especially in Canterbury and Marlborough where it was equivalent to an extra hour and a half a day. At several towns in these two provinces the totals exceeded the previous highest October figures, while at Ashburton a new record was set for the second month in succession.

Weather sequence.—In the presence of a large anticyclone centred near North Cape, the month opened with fine weather.

After a period of general rain during the passage of a cold front, a wedge of high pressure built up over the South Island on the 3rd. Barometers soon fell again in the south with the approach of the first of a series of westerly depressions, the centre of which passed close to Stewart Island early on the 5th. During that night the second of the series moved eastwards across Otago; the third followed a similar path some thirty-six hours later. A shallow secondary centre, which formed off Westland, moved slowly north-eastwards to fill up west of Taranaki on the 10th. This was a very wet period, especially in Westland, the 5th being the wettest day on record in South Westland. Most other districts also had copious rain, but little or nothing fell on the Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay Plains. The North Island was not affected until after the 6th.

On the 10th and 11th moderate rain did fall in Hawke’s Bay and also about Gisborne. It was accompanied by strong southerly winds as a depression from the north moved rapidly south-eastwards past East Cape. The weather elsewhere had cleared with the arrival of a ridge of high pressure from the west. Widespread fog and drizzle affected western districts of the North Island on the 13th.

Two active depressions in succession travelled rapidly south-eastwards from Tasmania. The first passed close to Southland on the night of the 14th, the second was much deeper and followed two days later on a track somewhat farther to the south. Again, rainfall was negligible east of the ranges but elsewhere was frequent, with heavy falls in Westland. North-westerlies rose at times to gale force about Cook and Foveaux Straits.

The centre of an anticyclone which moved on to the Dominion on the 18th remained west of Auckland for a week, while a new high-pressure cell developed east of Cook Strait. During the next two days the North Island lay in a shallow trough between the two high pressure cells, and showers occurred in many districts, especially in the eastern half of the Island. North-westerlies prevailed south of Taranaki, and day temperatures became warm in Canterbury. The weather remained unsettled on the West Coast and showers extended to Taranaki on the 22nd.

After crossing Southland on the afternoon of the 23rd a cold front proceeded north-eastwards, accompanied by a band of rain, to pass off the country two days later. A wedge developed to the rear. Temperatures became appreciably cooler in the South Island, rising again with the return to north-westerly conditions on the 26th.

Barometers remained high to the north-east while two deep depressions on a south-easterly course passed south of New Zealand. The associated frontal systems travelled rapidly eastwards across the country producing heavy rain in Westland and moderate falls in other western districts.

Showery south-westerly conditions prevailed on the 30th with some scattered hail and thunder in the south. A ridge of high pressure brought a temporary clearance on the 31st.

(N.Z. M.O. 107.)

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

Notice to Mariners No. 55 of 1949

Marine Department,
Wellington, N.Z., 21st November, 1949.
NEW ZEALAND.—NORTH ISLAND.—HAURAKI GULF.—D'URVILLE ROCK
Buoy Re-established

Previous Notice : No. 50 of 1949 is hereby cancelled.
Position : D'Urville Rock, lat. 36° 43′3 S.; long. 175° 04′2 E. (approx.).
Details : The buoy marking the position of the above rock has been replaced in its charted position.
Charts Affected : Nos. 1896, 3797, 2543.
Publications : New Zealand Pilot, 1946, page 177.

W. C. SMITH, Secretary.
(Road Closed by Order of the Maori Land Court

Department of Maori Affairs,
Wellington, 18th November, 1949.
NOTICE is hereby given that the piece of road described in the Schedule hereto has been declared closed and revested in the owner of the land found entitled thereto by an Order of the Maori Land Court at Rotorua on the 24th day of December, 1948, pursuant to section 488 of the Maori Land Act, 1931.

SCHEDULE

ALL that area of public road containing 1 acre 22 perches, more or less, in the Auckland District, being portion of the road passing through or adjoining Papamoa No. 2 Section 11B Block, situate in Block XI, Tauranga Survey District. As the same is more particularly shown on the plan lodged in the office of the Chief Surveyor at Auckland, marked M.L. 16680, and thereon coloured green.

T. T. ROPIHA, Under-secretary.