342

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

No. 13

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JANUARY 1962

General: January was unusually warm. Although barometric pressures remained high, as in the three previous months, rainfall was not particularly low, except in Northland. The dry spell from which central districts had been suffering was broken completely in most areas by heavy rain on the 12th, and thereafter growth was quite satisfactory. However, in parts of Hawke's Bay, northern Manawatu, and Taranaki more rain would have been appreciated.

In parts of Northland it was the second month of inadequate rainfall and conditions were very dry, with a falling-off in dairy production. Parts of Auckland and Waikato were also finding conditions rather dry.

Rainfall: Rainfall was from two to four times the average value in central districts from southern Manawatu and southern Wairarapa to Nelson city and the northern end of the Kaikouras. In these areas 7 to 10 in. of rain fell on the 12th and 13th, contributing about three-quarters of the monthly total and causing some flooding in the Greytown (Wairarapa) area.

It was also appreciably wetter than usual over the remainder of the Wellington Province and Taranaki, also in Buller, parts of North Canterbury, and parts of the east coast from Cape Colville to Portland Island.

On the other hand, in western and northern Northland and about Auckland city rainfall was less than half the average value.

Temperatures: Temperatures were above average, in the North Island mainly by 4 degrees, in the South Island mainly by 3 degrees. Some temperatures of over 90 degrees were recorded in Canterbury and Hawke's Bay on the 21st. At Timaru the maximum reached 97 and at Waipukurau it reached 91.

Snow was reported on the tops of the ranges in Southland on the 5th and again on the 22nd and 23rd.

Sunshine: Sunshine was above average, except in the east of the North Island and in Otago and Southland. Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Westport, and Lincoln were all favoured with surpluses of at least 30 hours.

By contrast, in Bay of Plenty, Taupo, and Hawke's Bay sunshine was below average by more than 25 hours.

Weather Sequence: On the 1st a small depression from the Tasman Sea crossed the country, and the associated trough of low pressure was moving slowly over the southern half of the North Island. Rain was reported over almost the whole of the South Island, also in Manawatu and parts of Taranaki and the Auckland Province. During the next two days the trough became stationary to the north, with some further rain in Waitomo and North Taranaki. On the 4th the trough moved southward again on to the

Auckland Province, with rain extending over a larger area. At the same time another trough of low pressure was bringing rain to western and southern districts of the South Island.

On the following day this second trough became slow-moving and rain became general over the South Island, with some considerable falls in Westland, Otago, and parts of Canterbury and Southland. During the 6th and 7th the trough continued its northward progress, with some further rain over the North Island but a clearance in the south. For the next three days an anticyclone was moving slowly eastward over the country, and the weather was fine, apart from isolated showers in the far north.

The weather deteriorated on the West Coast on the 11th with the approach of a vigorous trough of low pressure. During the 12th to the 14th this trough also became rather slow-moving, and a small depression formed on it and passed over Cook Strait. This was a period of welcome but exceptionally heavy rain in Nelson, Marlborough, Wairarapa, and Wellington. Flooding was reported in the Hutt Valley and Greytown (Wairarapa). Some rain was also recorded in most other North Island districts and as far south as Hokitika and Christchurch.

By contrast, the period from the 15th to the 20th was one of predominantly fine weather, with an anticyclone over the country. However, some light rain fell in parts of the Auckland Province on the 15th and 16th, and the Southland coast was affected by a weak stationary front from the 18th to the 20th.

A rapid deterioration occurred on the 21st as a deep depression passed close to Southland and the associated vigorous trough of low pressure moved on to the country. During this and the following day the West Coast, Nelson, and Wellington again received considerable rain. Most other areas were also affected but in Canterbury and Hawke's Bay the weather was hot, with very little rain.

With rising pressures the weather soon improved and from the 23rd to the 25th it was mainly fine as an anticyclone moved across New Zealand. However, some light rain was reported on the 23rd in coastal districts as far north as Haast and Dunedin; and on the next two days a few showers fell in the far north.

During the last six days of the month pressures were low to the north, and over the greater part of the North Island, especially in the east, the weather was persistently unsettled. Gisborne and Bay of Plenty were most affected, while the far north remained dry. In the South Island the weather was more settled. However, some light rain was reported in coastal districts as far north as Greymouth and Christchurch on the 28th and 29th; and on the following day districts further north received a little rain.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

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

Ministry of Works—Schedule of Civil Engineering, Building, and Housing Contracts of £10,000 or More in Value

Name of Work
Successful Tenderer
Amount of Tender Accepted
£
s. d.
Civil Engineering—
Hamilton-Woodville State Highway 3: Construction of Onaero Stream Bridge
Chas. S. Luney Ltd.
16,038 0 0
Meremere Steam Power Station: Construction of water treatment plant and rising main
A. E. Stewart
13,305 15 0
Building—
Erection of new St. Helen's Hospital at Wellington
Upton and Shearer Constructions Ltd.
379,041 10 0
Canterbury University: Erection of science block, stage 1
W. Williamson Construction Co. Ltd.
1,478,568 2 4
Housing—
Contract No. 158/10/98: Nine units at Taita
H. L. Parker Ltd.
28,256 0 0
Contract No. 158/10/100: Eight units at Taita
H. L. Parker Ltd.
24,300 0 0
Contract No. 158/10/103: Four units at Taita
M. V. Briscoe
10,235 0 0
Contract No. 269/101: Four units at Otara
Bronston Construction Co. Ltd.
11,385 0 0

J. T. GILKISON, Commissioner of Works.

Notice Under the Regulations Act 1936

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

Authority for Enactment
Short Title or Subject-matter
Serial Number
Date of Enactment
Price (Postage Free)
Chiropractors Act 1960
Chiropractors Regulations 1962
1962/12
19/2/62
6d.

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.