1570
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
No. 57

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for August 1964—continued

Supplementary data, sunshine: Foxton, 123 hrs.

LATE RETURNS

| Taumarunui, Jul 1964 | Ft. 562 | °F. 55·7 | °F. 41·4 | °F. 48·6 | +3·3 | °F. 61·2 | 30 | °F. 32·0 | 13 | In. 12·04 | 24 | +7·1 | In. 1·36 | 6 | Hrs. 37 |
| Taita, Jul 1964 | 213 | 53·9 | 42·0 | 47·9 | +2·6 | 59·7 | 13 | 32·3 | 20 | 7·24 | 18 | +1·8 | 1·31 | 26 | .. |
| Greymouth, Jul 1964 | 13 | 53·1 | 41·8 | 47·4 | +1·8 | 59·7 | 4 | 34·0 | 11 | 13·07 | 22 | +5·6| 1·82 | 20 | 62 |
| Golden Downs, Jul 1964 | 900 | 49·7 | 33·0 | 41·3 | +1·5 | 56·1 | 3 | 25·5 | 10 | 6·59 | 17 | +2·2 | 1·46 | 4 | .. |
| Molesworth, Jul 1964 | 2,930 | 45·2 | 27·3 | 36·2 | +1·6 | 54·0 | 3 | 18·0 | 11, 12 | 2·68 | 14 | +0·8| 0·59 | 15 | .. |
| Temuka, Jul 1964 | 80 | 48·8 | 32·6 | 40·7 | .. | 66·6 | 5 | 25·5 | 1 | 2·73 | 5 | .. | 1·00 | 20 | .. |
| Waipiata, Jul 1964 | 1,550 | .. | 29·6 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 19·0 | 26 | 0·49 | 6 | −0·5 | 0·18 | 15 | 86 |
| East Gore, Jul 1964 | 245 | 48·7 | 34·3 | 41·5 | +2·1 | 65·0 | 4 | 26·2 | 26 | 1·02 | 10 | −1·2 | 0·17 | 28 | .. |

NOTE—An asterisk beside the difference from normal indicates that the figures are based on provisional normals. Rainfall normals refer to the standard period 1921–50. Where observations are not available for the whole period, or where the site of the rain-gauge has been changed, the normals are partly interpolated.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR AUGUST 1964

General: In August, as in the previous month, barometers were very low over New Zealand; and there was again an unusually high frequency of north-westerly winds. As a result, it was cloudier and wetter than usual in western districts and sunnier and drier than usual in eastern districts.

In the North Island farmers found conditions fairly favourable, except that in some western districts the ground was too wet. In Canterbury and parts of Otago the prolonged dry spell was having its effect, causing a shortage of feed. Lambing, which had commenced in the previous month, was in full swing; and in most districts there were few losses.

Rainfall: In eastern districts from Dunedin to Gisborne and about Cook Strait rainfall was less than half the average value. In parts of South Canterbury and North Otago totals amounted to only about a tenth of an inch and were the lowest for August in many years of records. Oamaru’s ·12 in. was a record in nearly a century of observations.

Elsewhere rainfall was mainly somewhat above average.

As in July, thunderstorms were comparatively frequent in parts of the Auckland Province, especially Northland. Quite a number were reported from the 4th to the 7th and from the 12th to the 14th.

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly close to average. However, they were more than a degree above average in eastern districts from Christchurch to Gisborne and also about Cook Strait.

The main snow falls on the high country were from the 11th to the 14th and the 26th to the 28th.

Sunshine: Sunshine was above average in eastern districts from Dunedin to Gisborne by up to 40 hours. Elsewhere it was below average, mainly by 20 to 40 hours.

Weather Sequence: In the first two days of the month an anticyclone was centred near North Cape and a depression was approaching New Zealand from the Tasman Sea. Considerable rain was reported on the West Coast and some light falls also extended to Wellington and Taranaki. As the depression crossed the South Island during the 3rd and 4th rain became general, except in parts of Hawke’s Bay. Conditions remained unsettled for the next two days, especially in western districts, as another deep depression passed close to the South Island. During the 7th and 8th this depression lay to the east of the South Island, with rain in Canterbury and over the North Island.

The 9th to the 14th was a period of westerly weather, with deep depressions passing to the south. Over the greater part of the country conditions remained unsettled with frequent rain, but in most eastern districts the weather was fair or fine. Some snow was reported at the end of the period on the Central Otago hills and to a considerable depth at the Homer Tunnel.

On the 15th a weak ridge of high pressure brought an improvement in most districts. A shallow depression soon moved from the Tasman Sea on to Northland, with light rain on the 16th and 17th in parts of the North Island and also in some western and southern districts of the South Island. During the next two days this depression moved slowly eastward, while at the same time a trough of low pressure moved on to New Zealand from the west. Rain spread over the Auckland Province and also to the West Coast and parts of Southland. Some considerable falls were reported about Auckland city and Coromandel.

A trough of low pressure which crossed the country on the 20th brought rain to western districts and Southland. On the following day the weather improved temporarily under the influence of a weak ridge of high pressure, but some showers were still reported in the Auckland Province and in Fiordland and coastal Southland. Another trough of low pressure during its passage over the country from the 22nd to the 24th brought rain to many areas, but there was little or none in eastern districts from Dunedin to Gisborne or about Cook Strait.

During the 25th and 26th a complex depression crossed the North Island with rain there and also in Southland. The depression moved away to the east, and for the next two days cold south-westerlies covered the country, with showers in many districts, especially in the North Island. Snow was reported on the high country of both islands. However, a ridge of high pressure brought better weather on the 29th and 30th. On the last day of the month a trough of low pressure crossed most of the country, bringing rain mainly to the West Coast, parts of Southland and Taranaki, and the areas around Cook Strait.

R. G. SIMMERS, Director.
(N.Z. Met. S. Misc. Pub. 107)

Plants Declared Noxious Weeds in the County of Waimea
(Notice No. Ag. 8050)

PURSUANT to section 3 of the Noxious Weeds Act 1950, and to a delegation from the Minister of Agriculture under section 9 of the Department of Agriculture Act 1953, for the purposes of the said section, the following special order made by the Waimea County Council on the 5th day of June 1964, is hereby published.

SPECIAL ORDER

THAT, in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Noxious Weeds Act 1950, Milk thistle or variegated thistle (Silybum marianum) and Barley Grass (Hordeum murinum) be declared Noxious Weeds within the district of the County of Waimea.

Dated at Wellington this 14th day of September 1964,

G. J. ANDERSON, Director (Administration).

(Ag. 20649)

Plant Declared Noxious Weed in the County of Ashburton
(Notice No. Ag. 8046)

PURSUANT to section 3 of the Noxious Weeds Act 1950, and to a delegation from the Minister of Agriculture under section 9 of the Department of Agriculture Act 1953, for the purposes of the said section, the following special order made by the Ashburton County Council on the 21st day of August 1964, is hereby published.

SPECIAL ORDER

THAT, pursuant to the provision of section 3 of the Noxious Weeds Act 1950, the Council of the County of Ashburton hereby resolves by way of special order that

Grecian thistle (Chamaepeuce afra)

be a noxious weed within the County of Ashburton.

Dated at Wellington this 10th day of September 1964.

G. J. ANDERSON, Director (Administration).

(Ag. 20649)