24 AUGUST
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
1315

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JULY 1961

General: Although temperatures were about average, there was little settled weather during July, and in the third week some serious flooding occurred in widely separate areas. It was not a particularly good month for farming, especially in the South Island, where there was too much rain and very little sunshine. Hill-country farmers in the south lost some sheep due to heavy snow in the first week but, with milder conditions later, stock in general seemed to be wintering reasonably well; at least there appeared to be no lack of winter feed. Lambs were beginning to make an appearance towards the end of the month.

A small local tornado damaged several buildings in Rotorua on the 17th.

Rainfall: Rainfall was appreciably above average in most inland and eastern districts of the South Island, also in Wairarapa, southern Hawke’s Bay, and Waikato. On the Canterbury Plains and high country and in parts of inland Nelson and Marlborough, it was double the normal value. In inland districts of South Canterbury and North Otago rainfall was four times the average; in these districts it was the wettest July since 1929 and one of the wettest months on record.

Elsewhere rainfall was mainly close to normal. However, in parts of Northland, Gisborne, and Central Otago it was somewhat drier than usual.

Some widespread flooding was associated with the passage of a depression across the North Island from the 16th to the 18th. The main areas affected were: New Plymouth, with 4½ in. of rain in 12 hours on the 17th; the Waikato - Thames Valley area, with up to 5–6 in. for two days (16th and 17th); and inland South Canterbury and North Otago together with the catchment of the Taieri River, with 5–8 in. for two days (17th and 18th).

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly close to normal.

A considerable fall of snow was reported in the high country of both Islands from the 7th to the 9th.

Sunshine: Sunshine was below average over Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, mainly by 20–40 hours. The totals recorded at the Hermitage, Timaru, Waimate, and Gore were the lowest in 30–45 years of observation.

Elsewhere sunshine was mainly fairly close to normal. However, parts of Northland, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Marlborough were favoured with 15–25 hours more sunshine than usual.

Weather Sequence: The cold south-westerlies which had prevailed at the end of June continued on 1 July, with showers in some eastern coastal districts of the South Island and also from New Plymouth to Auckland. Some snow was still reported. Conditions improved temporarily on the 2nd under the influence of a weak ridge of high pressure. For the next two days pressure remained high to the south, while a depression passed close to North Cape, with rain affecting mainly Northland.

From the 5th to the 7th a deep depression passed to the south, with rain in most districts (except parts of Canterbury), heavier and more persistent in the west. Another depression soon crossed the northern half of the South Island bringing general rain on the 8th and 9th and a change to cold southerlies. For the next two days south-westerly conditions again prevailed, with showers mainly in Southland, on the West Coast, in Taranaki, and over most of the Auckland Province. Yet another depression passed close to Southland and Otago on the 12th and 13th and rain was reported in most districts except Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay. On the following day a ridge of high pressure brought mainly fair weather.

By the 15th a deepening depression covered the central Tasman Sea and this was to affect New Zealand for 11 days, with some widespread flooding. Northerlies prevailed and by the 16th rain had set in over most of the country, with heavy falls in Waikato, North Taranaki, and Nelson; serious flooding was reported in New Plymouth. On the following day a new centre formed near East Cape and winds turned to the east over the South Island. Rain became heavy in South Canterbury and parts of Otago, and it remained rather heavy in Waikato; serious flooding was reported in these areas by the 18th. By the next day the main centre of the depression was near Gisborne, and it was losing intensity. For four days there was a gradual clearance from the west and south, until by the 22nd rain persisted only in Gisborne and parts of northern Hawke’s Bay. However, on the 23rd easterlies increased again as the depression deepened, and rain spread to other eastern districts. The weather improved from the south-west once again during the 24th and 25th.

With an anticyclone over New Zealand for the next two days, there was another brief spell of fair weather. From the 27th to the 31st a very deep and extensive depression over the Tasman Sea moved southward, and later a small secondary depression developed over the North Island. In the moist north-westerly and later westerly airstream frequent periods of rain affected all the North Island except eastern districts from Gisborne to Cape Palliser; it also affected Nelson, Marlborough, the West Coast, and parts of Southland.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.
(N.Z. Met. S. Misc. Pub. 107)

Mining Privileges Struck Off the Register

PURSUANT to section 188 of the Mining Act 1926, I hereby give notice that the mining privileges mentioned in the Schedule hereto have been struck off the Register.

Dated at Westport this 7th day of August 1961.

C. H. KENT, Mining Registrar.

SCHEDULE

Notice Under the Regulations Act 1936

PURSUANT to the Regulations Act 1936, notice is hereby given of the making of regulations as under:

Copies can be purchased from the Government Publications Bookshops—corner of Rutland and Lorne Streets (P.O. Box 5344), Auckland; corner of Lambton Quay and Bunny Street (Private Bag), Wellington; 112 Gloucester Street (P.O. Box 1721), Christchurch. Prices for quantities supplied on application. Copies may be ordered by quoting serial number.

R. E. OWEN, Government Printer.