26 JANUARY
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
165

By contrast, the West Coast was favoured with 30–90 hours above average sunshine, and the Hokitika total of 284 hours was the highest in the country. Sunshine was also above normal by 15–30 hours in South Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, except near Dunedin.

Weather Sequence: The first thirteen days were marked by persistent southerly to easterly winds, with cloudy, unsettled, and unusually cool conditions in eastern districts but mainly fine sunny weather on the West Coast. A trough of low pressure which crossed the country on the 1st was accompanied by general rain, and a depression soon formed east of the South Island. The depression moved north-eastward during the next two days, and an anti-cyclone developed to the south of the country. Rain became heavier in Hawke’s Bay, but the weather cleared in Westland and later in Taranaki. Thunderstorms were reported in many areas, with heavy hail in southern Hawke’s Bay; and snow fell on the ranges of both islands. Pressures remained high to the south, and as the first depression moved away to the east a second depression moved into the North Tasman Sea and crossed Northland on the 5th and 6th, with heavy rain. This depression moved away slowly, but pressures remained low over Northland for another week, so that a trough extended from there to the east and later south-east, with a continuation of similar weather, particularly from Christchurch northward. However, as the system commenced to lose intensity and move away on the 12th and 13th the weather cleared from the south and west. By the 13th it had cleared in Northland and most of Hawke’s Bay, but showers persisted in Gisborne.

On the 14th the weather was generally fair or fine, under the influence of an anticyclone centred over the Tasman Sea. The anticyclone moved on to the North Island, where fine weather persisted for another two days, during which time however a slow-moving trough of low pressure brought considerable rain to the West Coast and the Alps, with lighter falls in Southland and Otago. From the 17th to the 19th the trough, now weak, continued to move northward, bringing some light rain to the Kaikoura coast and southern and eastern districts of the North Island.

From the 20th to the 27th the weather was mainly fine, under the influence of a belt of high pressure covering the Tasman Sea and extending far to the east. However, the passage of a depression to the north caused rain in Northland for the first four days. Depressions passing to the south affected the western and southern coasts of the South Island from the 22nd to the 24th and again on the 26th; and on the 23rd coastal districts from Dunedin to Timaru also received some rain.

A trough of low pressure which crossed the country on the 28th and 29th brought rain mainly to eastern districts and about Cook Strait. A depression developed off East Cape, and the 30th was a cool day, with southerlies, and showers from Kaikoura to East Cape. This depression soon moved away, and on the last day of the year the weather was mainly fine, though still cool.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

(N.Z. Met. S. Misc. Pub. 107)

RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND

SUMMARY OF TRADING BANKS’ MONTHLY RETURNS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON WEDNESDAY, 21 DECEMBER 1960

(In accordance with section 46 of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1933)

(All Amounts in New Zealand Currency)

*Includes transfers to Long-term Mortgage Department, £225,012.
(h h) Aggregate unexercised overdraft authorities: £137,801,710.

Wellington, New Zealand, 20 January 1961.
R. N. FLEMING, Chief Cashier.

BANK RETURNS SUPPLEMENTARY

STATEMENT OF THE AMOUNT OF LIABILITIES AND ASSETS OF THE LONG-TERM MORTGAGE DEPARTMENT OF THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND AS AT 21 DECEMBER 1960

18 January 1961.
R. N. FLEMING, Chief Cashier.
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