31 MAY
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for April 1973—continued

The “normal” refers to the present site of the instruments. Standard periods for normals are: Temperature 1931–60, Rainfall 1921–50, Sunshine 1935–60. No normals are available for stations with only short records.

*Indicates that the sunshine recorder is not located at the station but is in the near vicinity.

A rain day is a day with rainfall equal to or greater than 0.1 mm.

Where the extremes of temperature and rainfall have occurred more than once during the month, the date of the first occurrence is given.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR APRIL 1973

General—The main feature of April was a continuation of the dry weather of the previous 5 months until Easter on the 20th to the 23rd, which was the wettest part of the month. However, the rain received at this time still left the soil much too dry in many areas. Conditions were particularly poor in Marlborough and North Canterbury, where the drought which had developed about 2 months previously persisted. Hay and silage were being fed to stock in these areas, while some animals were sold.

On the 22nd a tornado caused considerable damage at Opunake. This was one of the very few New Zealand tornadoes in which life was lost, one man being killed.

Rainfall—Rainfall was below normal, mainly by 25–50 percent, over most of the North Island, also in Nelson, Marlborough, North and central Canterbury. The only area where it was more than 50 percent above normal was most of Otago with part of Southland.

For the period November-April the total rainfall at Blenheim was 106 mm, which was the lowest ever recorded during these 6 months of the year in this area in nearly 70 years of observation.

Temperatures—Temperatures were mainly above normal but only by ½°C.

Sunshine—Sunshine totals for the month were below normal in eastern and southern districts of the North Island and on the Southland coast, by 15–40 hours. They were above normal in Otago and Canterbury and in Northland, by a similar amount.

Weather Sequence—At the beginning of April a trough of low pressure associated with a depression to the south crossed the North Island, bringing a change to southerlies. Rain covered the North Island but was light in Taranaki; some falls were also reported in Canterbury. A depression formed off East Cape, and cool southerlies persisted over the North Island for the next 5 days, while an anticyclone moved on to the South Island. Rain continued at first in eastern districts of the North Island but conditions soon improved, except in Gisborne.

From the 7th to the 9th a depression moved over Campbell Island, and the associated weak trough of low pressure brought rain mainly to Fiordland, South Westland, and the Southland coast. During the next 3 days this trough became slow-moving over the North Island with the formation of a small depression near Northland. Rain covered the greater part of the North Island with considerable falls on the 11th in Coromandel, Auckland, and eastern Northland. By the 13th the depression lay to the east of the North Island and there was a change to southerlies. Rain persisted in Northland and was also reported in some eastern districts of both Islands. On the 14th and 15th pressures remained high to the north and a deep depression was passing far to the south-west, while westerly to south-westerly winds predominated over New Zealand. Another trough of low pressure brought rain to most of the South Island with scattered falls also in the North Island.

During the 16th and 17th the weather was mainly fine under the influence of an anticyclone moving rapidly across the country; however, some showers were reported in Southland and also in Northland. For the next 2 days a small depression west of Auckland moved slowly southward with an associated warm front. Rain persisted in Northland with some heavy falls on the 19th, and other areas of both Islands were also affected. As the depression moved on to the North Island on the 20th and 21st, rain became fairly general, especially in western and northern districts. The unsettled weather persisted on the 22nd and 23rd, with a very deep depression passing close to Campbell Island and the associated trough of low pressure crossing the country. Some exceptionally strong gales were reported around Cook Strait.

The weather improved in most districts on the 24th and 25th with an anticyclone over the North Tasman Sea and pressures still low to the south. Rain was reported at times in Fiordland, south Westland, and coastal Southland, with isolated showers elsewhere. Conditions deteriorated again over the South Island from the 26th to the 29th during the passage of a warm front and the formation of a small depression to the south. Most of Nelson, Marlborough, and Canterbury were not affected but elsewhere considerable rain was reported, and there were also scattered falls in the North Island. On the last day of the month an anticyclone was centred over the eastern Tasman Sea and there were only isolated showers in both Islands.

J. F. GABITES, Director.

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

BANKRUPTCY NOTICES

In Bankruptcy—Notice of First Meeting

IN the matter of LYNNETTE JENNIFER POMEROY, housewife, previously of 242 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, now 4 Kelmarna Avenue, Herne Bay, a bankrupt. I hereby summon a meeting of creditors to be held at my office, on the 1st day of June 1973, at 10.30 o'clock in the forenoon.

All proofs of debt must be filed with me as soon as possible after the date of adjudication and preferably before the first meeting of creditors.

Dated at Auckland this 24th day of May 1973.

P. R. LOMAS, Official Assignee.

Second Floor, Government Building, corner Shortland Street and Jean Batten Place, Auckland 1.

In Bankruptcy—Supreme Court

PHILLIP GRAEME KELLY, of 12 Twenty-first Avenue, Tauranga, roofing contractor, was adjudged bankrupt on 22 May 1973.

T. W. PAIN, Official Assignee.

Hamilton.

In Bankruptcy—Supreme Court

IN the matter of PETER FREDERICK JAMES ANDERSON, a bankrupt. Creditors’ meeting will be held at the Courthouse, Rotorua, on Thursday, 7 June 1973, at 11 a.m.

T. W. PAIN, Official Assignee.

Hamilton.