Mar. 23] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 317

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—continued

Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for February, 1950—continued

LATE RETURNS

Winchmore (Jan., 1950) | 626 | 70·2 | 49·1 | 59·6 | .. | 83·4 | 10 | 42·0 | 15 | 2·98 | 7 | .. | 1·55 | 28 | ..

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 FEBRUARY, 1950

General.—Apart from the drought conditions which have developed in parts of the Auckland and Coromandel peninsulas, February was a favourable month. Rainfall was, in general, distributed to advantage—low rainfall regions receiving more rain than usual and wetter regions less.

Two vigorous tropical cyclones, which were headed towards New Zealand, fortunately kept far enough to the east to cause no damage. A number of Hawke’s Bay orchards were damaged by hail on the 11th. As the same district was also visited by severe hailstorms last December, the result has been a marked reduction in the North Island fruit crop.

Rainfall.—For the third successive month, rainfall was substantially below normal in the Northland and Coromandel districts. It was also deficient about Gisborne, northern Hawke’s Bay, the south-western part of the Wellington Province, and over the South Island, with the exception of the eastern portion south of Marlborough.

Rainfall was much above average in the area from the South Taranaki Bight inland to Ruapehu and the Ruahines. In this region it was the wettest February since 1936. At Wanganui the rainfall on the 9th (3·76 inches) was the highest daily total for over 76 years.

Temperatures.—In western districts from Taranaki southwards mean temperatures were 2°–3° F. below average. Elsewhere the departure from average was also negative, but generally by less than 1° F.

An invasion of polar air on the 18th, though of short duration, was very unseasonal. Snow fell on the ranges, while in Wellington it was the coldest day ever recorded in February.

Sunshine.—Napier and New Plymouth were the only stations to report sunshine totals significantly below normal, and even there the deficiency was only equivalent to half an hour per day. In the northern part of both Islands there was a surplus of about 30 hours.

Weather Sequences.—A brief spell of fine weather ended on the 2nd, as an anticyclone began to move away to the east. Rain developed in Westland and gradually spread northwards and eastwards during the passage of the frontal system associated with a deep depression far to the south.

Clear, cool weather prevailed in most districts on the 6th with the approach of an anticyclone which turned northwards and later passed over North Auckland. In the south a few showers came with a weak cold front on the 7th. Next day another anticyclone moved from the South Tasman Sea across to the east of the South Island, where it slowly intensified. It was preceded by a weak cold front which produced scattered light rain in the South Island. Becoming stationary between the two anticyclones, this system increased greatly in activity. As a result, widespread rain fell for several days in the region from Nelson and Marlborough northwards to South Auckland. Very heavy falls were registered on the 8th between Wanganui and Lake Taupo. Rain extended to the rest of the Auckland Province as the low pressure system passed north-eastwards on the 11th.

While a cold front was crossing the country on the 12th, a small depression developed in the South Taranaki Bight, crossed the North Island during the night, and then passed off rapidly to the south-east. Heavy rain, accompanied in places by thunder and hail, was again experienced about the central provinces and caused some local flooding near Marton.

Apart from scattered showers in the south, fine anticyclonic weather prevailed from the 13th to the 16th.

The approach of a tropical cyclone from the north on the 17th coincided with the advance of a vigorous cold front from the south. Although the cyclone followed a track well to the east, southerly winds rose to gale force for a short time in exposed parts of the east coast, as the centre travelled rapidly southwards to pass over the Chatham Islands at midday on the 19th. Temperatures had dropped considerably, but fine, warmer weather soon prevailed with the arrival of an anticyclone from the west.

Barometers remained uniformly high over New Zealand for the next seven days as a series of high-pressure cells passed centrally across the country. It was a period of settled weather with cool nights and mild or warm days. In Westland and Southland, however, disturbances centred far to the south produced a few showers on the 21st and 22nd. Some morning fogs were reported from scattered places, chiefly on the 25th and 27th.

As the high-pressure system moved off to the east on the 27th, north-westerly winds prevailed. Brief rain fell next day when a cold front crossed the South Island. Another tropical storm was then approaching rapidly from the north, but, as its subsequent path lay far to the east, it had little effect on the Dominion’s weather.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

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

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, 8TH MARCH, 1950

*Expressed in New Zealand currency.

Proportion of reserve (No. 7 less No. 5) to notes and other demand liabilities, 31·921 per cent.

W. R. EGGERS, Chief Accountant.