22 AUGUST
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
1215

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JULY 1963

General: July was a very cloudy month, with an unusually high frequency of winds from the east and north-east, bringing excessive rain to some eastern districts, especially in the South Island.

The ground was too wet in some areas, particularly Canterbury; and the lack of feed was noticed by farmers in Hawke’s Bay. However, in most areas stock were wintering reasonably satisfactorily. Lambing was reported to have commenced with few losses.

An easterly storm raged over most of the country from the 12th to the 16th. Strong gales affected parts of Northland, Auckland, and Thames, also Manawatu. Flood waters covered some areas in Marlborough, Canterbury, and Otago; and road and rail transport was disrupted especially between Christchurch and Picton.

Rainfall: Rainfall was more than twice the average value in eastern districts from Dunedin to Cape Campbell, also on the East Coast and in parts of Bay of Plenty. It was also somewhat above average in northern districts of the South Island, in other eastern districts of the North Island, and in the remainder of the Auckland Province, except around Auckland City.

By contrast, it was less than half as wet as usual on the West Coast, in the Southern Lakes District, and around Foveaux Strait. In other western and southern districts south of New Plymouth it was also somewhat below average.

Around the Kaikouras rainfall was more than four times the average value, with totals ranging from 9 to 26 in. Of this amount 8 to 22 in. fell in 4 days — the 13th to the 16th.

Temperatures: Temperatures were 1–3 degrees above average in the Auckland Province and also in south Westland and Fiordland. Over most of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland they were 1–3 degrees colder than normal; as in June, inland districts in these provinces had the greatest departures below average.

The worst snowfalls were from the 9th to the 11th, affecting especially the central high country of the North Island; and about the 25th to the 27th, affecting the same area and also coming down to low levels in southern Hawke’s Bay just east of the Ruahines.

Sunshine: Sunshine was more than 30 hours below average in eastern and most northern districts of both islands and also in inland areas of the South Island. Napier’s 84 hours and Hanmer’s 72 hours were the lowest for July in over 50 years of record.

Elsewhere sunshine was mainly below average by up to 25 hours. However, most of the West Coast was favoured with somewhat more hours than usual; and in Auckland, Waikato and Taumarunui sunshine was almost up to average.

Weather Sequence—A depression which had been moving slowly from near the Queensland coast across the north Tasman Sea during the last five days of June continued its movement towards the North Island during the first four days of July. Rain became heavier over Northland and it soon spread to east coast districts as far south as Christchurch, while severe frosts were being experienced further south. On the 3rd and 4th rain was general over the North Island and extended also to most eastern districts of the South Island; there were some considerable falls in Bay of Plenty. During the next two days the depression, now losing intensity, crossed the North Island; rain was now confined mainly to eastern districts, being associated with a change to southerly winds.

From the 7th to the 9th a depression crossed the South Island, with general rain, heaviest in central districts of the North Island, where snow was reported to low levels. During the 10th and 11th a weak ridge extended over the South Island from the south Tasman Sea while a depression over the north Tasman Sea was moving towards the North Island. Showers were reported in some eastern districts, on the Southland coast, and in parts of the Auckland Province. Elsewhere the weather was fair.

By the time the depression lay over Northland on the 12th it had deepened considerably and had developed two centres. An anticyclone was centred to the south-east of Southland. During this and the next four days the depression moved slowly southward over the North Island, while easterly winds brought cloud and rain to all areas except South Westland, the Southern Lakes district and western Southland. Strong gales were reported in parts of the Auckland Province and Manawatu. Some heavy rain was reported at first in Northland, but the heaviest and most persistent rain was experienced on the east coast of the South Island, especially near the Kaikouras. Considerable areas of Marlborough, Canterbury, and Otago were soon under water; and road and rail transport between Christchurch and Picton was disrupted.

The weather improved in most districts with rising pressures as an anticyclone passed to the south and east of the South Island from the 17th to the 20th. However, pressures remained low to the north and north-east, and the weather remained showery in Northland, Gisborne, and Hawke’s Bay; there were also some showers at first about Cook Strait and on the east coast as far south as Dunedin. Severe frosts were reported in inland districts of the South Island.

From the 21st to the 23rd two troughs of low pressure, associated with a deep depression far to the south, passed eastward over New Zealand; and a small secondary depression developed over the North Island. Rain was mainly confined to northern and western districts of both islands. The depression over the North Island deepened, at the same time moving away to the east. Winds changed to cold southerlies, and the weather deteriorated in eastern districts but soon cleared elsewhere. Showers persisted in some eastern districts up to the 27th. Snow was reported to low levels.

The 28th was mainly fair as an anticyclone passed to the north, with a weak ridge over New Zealand. With the advance of another trough on to the country from the west on the following day, the weather deteriorated on the West Coast and in Nelson and Taranaki. A depression again developed over the North Island, and during the last two days of the month there was some rain in all districts except for inland areas of Canterbury and Otago.

R. G. SIMMERS, Director.

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

Releasing Land from the Provisions of Part XXIV of the Maori Affairs Act 1953 (Whangaehu Development Scheme)

PURSUANT to section 332 of the Maori Affairs Act 1953, the Board of Maori Affairs hereby declares that on the date of the publication of this notice in the Gazette, the land described in the Schedule hereto shall cease to be subject to the provisions of Part XXIV of the Maori Affairs Act 1953, the said land being so subject by virtue of a notice dated 22 May 1939, published in the Gazette, 25 May 1939, Volume II, page 1607, and registered as No. K. 22317.

SCHEDULE

WELLINGTON LAND DISTRICT

Dated at Wellington this 16th day of August 1963.

For and on behalf of the Board of Maori Affairs—

R. A. LAW,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Maori Affairs.

(M.A. 15/5/72, 65/8; D.O. 6/213 W.G.)

Land Acquired as a Public Reserve

PURSUANT to the Reserves and Domains Act 1953, notice is hereby given that the land described in the Schedule hereto has been acquired under the said Act to form part of the P.G. Nops Scenic Reserve to be administered, as a scenic reserve, by the Inglewood District Reserve Board.

SCHEDULE

TARANAKI LAND DISTRICT—PART P. G. NOPS SCENIC RESERVE

Lot 2, D.P. 8128, being part Section 123, Moa District, situated in the Borough of Inglewood: Area, 1 rood and 36 perches, more or less. Formerly part certificate of title, volume 120, folio 75.

Dated at Wellington this 16th day of August 1963.

R. J. MACLACHLAN, Director-General of Lands.

(L. and S. H.O. 4/114; D.O. 13/7/3)

Approval of Red Reflectors for Holden Motor Vehicles in Terms of the Traffic Regulations 1956

PURSUANT to regulation 41 (2) of the Traffic Regulations 1956,* the Commissioner of Transport hereby approves for the purposes of the said regulations the red reflectors of the make and type described in the Schedule hereto.

SCHEDULE

Tail lamp assemblies incorporating reflex red reflectors marked “HOLDEN R. 4” fitted as standard equipment to Holden motor vehicles.

Dated at Wellington this 12th day of August 1963.

R. J. POLASCHEK, Commissioner of Transport.

*S.R. 1956/217
Amendment No. 1: S.R. 1957/252
Amendment No. 2: S.R. 1958/115
Amendment No. 3: S.R. 1959/44
Amendment No. 4: S.R. 1960/27
Amendment No. 5: S.R. 1960/135
Amendment No. 6: S.R. 1962/1
Amendment No. 7: S.R. 1962/86
Amendment No. 8: S.R. 1963/67

(TT. 12/1/8)

Standard Specifications Revoked

PURSUANT to the provisions of the Standards Act 1941 and regulations made thereunder, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, on 8 August 1963, revoked the under-mentioned standard specifications:

N.Z.S.S. 638:1953: Distillation receivers (including crow receivers); being B.S. 605:1952.

N.Z.S.S. 905:1953: Flasks for the determination of distillation range; being B.S. 571:1953.

Dated at Wellington this 20th day of August 1963.

E. J. SUTCH,
Executive Officer, Standards Council.

(S.I. 114/2-63054)