NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR OCTOBER 1963

General: It was an exceptionally dry October and also rather warm. Barometers were high during the month and there was much less wind than usual. It was not a particularly good month for North Island dairy farmers. Although pasture growth was somewhat retarded, dairy production was being maintained at a satisfactory level. The prospects for hay and silage making, however, were the cause of concern, while many farmers in the Auckland province had been much troubled by cattle bloat. Other crops were badly in need of rain, although light falls near the end of the month gave some relief. A sharp frost on the 26th caused some damage in the fruit and vegetable areas of the Wellington province. Conditions generally were very favourable for sheep.

Rainfall: Very few places in the North Island and the northern half of the South Island received even half the average rainfall; but in Otago and Southland rainfall was mainly about average. Some areas received less than one tenth of the average, notably the Kaitaia-Dargaville area; east of Lake Taupo; parts of South Taranaki; Wellington and parts of southern Wairarapa; north-west Nelson; and Nelson city and the area to the east. There has not been a drier October in Wellington in 102 years of record, and in Nelson in 81 years of record; and for a number of other stations it was also the driest October on record.

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly about 2 degrees above average, highest departures being in inland and some eastern districts of the South Island and in central districts of the North Island. There was snow to low levels in Southland on the 13th, and some lamb losses were reported.

Sunshine: Most of the country received a little more than average sunshine. Nelson and inland districts of the South Island together with the Gisborne-Taupo area were especially favoured, with surpluses of more than 20 hours. In Wanganui-Manawatu, Westland, and coastal South Canterbury totals were somewhat below average.

Weather Sequence: At the beginning of the month a trough of low pressure extended from the tropics southwards into the western Tasman Sea. Otherwise a belt of high pressure centred about latitude 35°S extended across the whole Australia - New

Zealand region. The trough was not very active and when it moved slowly eastwards across New Zealand there were only light falls of rain mainly in Westland, Nelson, and Northland on the 4th and 5th. Otherwise settled weather prevailed over most of the country for the first week. Westerly conditions were well established to the south of the country, but the troughs moving along in this westerly stream had little effect on New Zealand's weather except to cause temporary increases in the westerly winds over the southern part of the South Island.

A cold front moved north-eastwards over the country on the 8th and 9th accompanied by scattered light rain and a temporary drop in temperatures. Three days of fine sunny weather followed as an intense anticyclone gradually enveloped the country.

Rain developed in Southland and Otago on the 12th with the arrival of a trough from the south-west. Continuing slowly northwards this trough gradually weakened and little or no rain accompanied its passage elsewhere except in Northland on the 15th and 16th, where there were some scattered moderate falls. About the same time there was some rain in Southland and Westland with the passage of a weak cold front over the South Island.

By the 18th anticyclonic conditions were again established and barometers remained high over New Zealand until the 26th. During this period the weather was generally fine except when a shallow trough with an accompanying belt of light rain moved leisurely northwards from the 23rd to the 26th.

Pressures fell in the south on the 26th when a deep depression passed near Campbell Island. At that time a very active trough extended from Southland across the Tasman Sea to Victoria. Advancing slowly north-eastwards and accompanied by a broad belt of rain this trough reached South Auckland by the end of the month. During its passage there were some heavy falls in Westland. Elsewhere the rain was much lighter, but was very welcome following a prolonged spell of dry weather. With the approach of another anticyclone across the South Tasman improved weather was spreading northwards at the end of the month.

R. G. SIMMERS, Director.

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

BANKRUPTCY NOTICES

In Bankruptcy

NOTICE is hereby given that dividends are now payable on all proved claims in the under-mentioned estates as at 21 October 1963:

Broomhead, A., of 38 Farndale Road, Panmure, contractor. First and final dividend of 4½d. in the pound.

Judd, F. A. J., of 28 Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn, warehouseman. First and final dividend of 2s. 1½d. in the pound.

McKinney, H., of Bombay, market gardener. Second and final dividend of 7d. in the pound.

McKinnon, M. N., of 8 Home Street, Arch Hill, Auckland, foreman carpenter. First dividend of 7s. 4d. in the pound.

Preston, P. J., of 19 Epping Street, Glen Innes, tar plant operator. First and final dividend of 5s. in the pound.

Rutledge, B. L., of 14 Bell Road, Remuera, mechanic. First and final dividend of 2s. 1½d. in the pound.

Williams, J., of 60 Portland Road, Remuera, labourer. First and final dividend of 20s. in the pound.

Williams, Mary M., of 60 Portland Road, Remuera, housewife. First and final dividend of 20s. in the pound.

E. C. CARPENTER, Official Assignee.

Fourth Floor, Dilworth Building, Customs Street East, Auckland.

In Bankruptcy—Supreme Court

DONALD MARTIN LYONS, of 174 Rangitira Road, Birkdale, photographer, was adjudged bankrupt on 18 November 1963. Creditors' meeting will be held at my office on Monday, 2 December 1963, at 10.30 a.m.

E. C. CARPENTER, Official Assignee.

Fourth Floor, Dilworth Building, Customs Street East, Auckland.

In Bankruptcy—Supreme Court

ERNEST GRAHAM WELLS, of 10 Cron Avenue, Henderson, pottery worker, was adjudged bankrupt on 15 November 1963. Creditors' meeting will be held at my office on Wednesday, 27 November 1963, at 10.30 a.m.

E. C. CARPENTER, Official Assignee.

Fourth Floor, Dilworth Building, Customs Street East, Auckland.

In Bankruptcy—Supreme Court

EMIL KOLOSE FRUEAN, of 5 Alexander Street, Kingsland, labourer, was adjudged bankrupt on 19 November 1963. Creditors' meeting will be held at my office on Tuesday, 3 December 1963, at 10.30 a.m.

E. C. CARPENTER, Official Assignee.

Fourth Floor, Dilworth Building, Customs Street East, Auckland.

In Bankruptcy—Supreme Court

Cunningham, Beresley Catherine, of Whakatane, stationer. First and final dividend of 7s. 1½d. in the pound.

Hohaia, Joseph, of Rangiuru Road, Te Puke, contractor. First and final dividend of 7s. 4½d. in the pound.

D. G. HAYTER, Official Assignee.

Courthouse, Tauranga, 12 November 1963.

In Bankruptcy—Supreme Court

BRIAN ANDREW WILLIAMS, of Foxton, millhand, was adjudged bankrupt on 18 November 1963. Creditors' meeting will be held at the Courthouse, Palmerston North, on Friday, 29 November 1963, at 10.30 a.m.

J. MILLER, Official Assignee.

Palmerston North, 18 November 1963.

In Bankruptcy—Supreme Court

NOTICE is hereby given that a second and final dividend of 14s. in the pound (making in all 19s. in the pound) is now payable at my office, in respect of the estate of Archibald Alan McDonald, of Taihape, carrier.

J. G. RUSSELL, Official Assignee.

Magistrate's Court, Taihape, 14 November 1963.