28 NOVEMBER
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
2745

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR OCTOBER 1974

General—Like most previous months of 1974, October was marked by an unusually high frequency of south-easterly winds. It was a cloudy month and for most places also wetter than normal. Farmers reported good growth. However, in many eastern districts of both islands it was too wet for sheep; and considerable losses of lambs occurred in the South Island due to snow to comparatively low levels on the 8th and 9th. During the same storm unusually strong south-easterly gales caused considerable damage in Westland.

Rainfall—Rainfall was above normal except in Northland with Auckland and Waikato, and in Fiordland with western Southland. In most districts the excess amounted to 50 percent. However, rainfall was more than double the normal value about Cook Strait, in parts of Nelson, on the Kaikoura coast and in North Canterbury, and over the greater part of Otago. In some areas a large proportion of the rain fell from the 7th to the 9th. During these 3 days parts of the Marlborough Sounds reported rainfalls of 200 mm, while a station to the north-east of Nelson received 315 mm. Flooding resulted in parts of Nelson and Marlborough besides Otago.

Some districts exposed to south-easterlies have had a particularly wet spell from April to October. Wellington has had 1430 mm during this period, making it the wettest 7-month period in 112 years of observation. This total was 70 percent above the normal for April-October; and similar excesses have been recorded in southern Wairarapa, on the Kaikoura coast, and in parts of North Canterbury.

Temperatures—Over most of the country temperatures were close to or above normal, with highest departures of 1°C in the Waitomo-Taranaki-Wanganui area. Temperatures were particularly wintry in eastern districts on the last 2–3 days of the month.

Sunshine—In eastern districts from Wairarapa southward sunshine was mainly below average by 30–60 hours. The values of 111–115 hours recorded at Waimate, Dunedin Airport, Balclutha, and Invercargill were all unusually low. The Waimate and Invercargill totals were the lowest for October in 40 years of record.

Weather Sequence—For the first 5 days of October a belt of high pressure, initially covering New Zealand and extending to the north-west and the south-east, moved slowly eastward. The weather was mainly fine but showers were reported in some districts of both islands, especially in the west. On the following day heavy rain set in on the West Coast with the approach of a trough of low pressure associated with a depression far to the south.

Depressions developed over the Tasman Sea in this trough as it moved slowly north-eastward over New Zealand from the 7th to the 9th, when the main centre was almost stationary to the west of Cook Strait. Rain was fairly general except in parts of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, with some considerable falls, especially in the South Island. Temperatures were warm at first but became much colder in the South Island on the 8th as easterly winds set in there. Snow was reported to low levels in Canterbury, and strong gales did a considerable amount of damage in Westland. By the 10th the depression was losing intensity and moving southward and rain became much lighter in the east. On the following day a weak ridge of high pressure brought an improvement in most districts.

On the 12th and 13th a small depression crossed the North Island from the west with light rain there and in northern districts of the South Island. Temperatures were now generally rather warm. During the next 2 days another depression moved along a similar path. The resulting weather was rather similar except that temperatures became colder over the South Island on the 15th as a ridge of high pressure extended in that direction from an anticyclone over the Tasman Sea. During the 16th and 17th this depression, now centred to the east of Northland, deepened. Rain was confined mainly to northern and eastern districts of the North Island but a weak trough brought some also to the West Coast and the Southland coast. As the depression deepened further and moved on to the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne area, the rain became heavier and extended over nearly the whole of the North Island, besides parts of Nelson, Marlborough, and Canterbury. The centre continued to move southward and on the 19th was affecting mainly Otago. However, rain set in on the West Coast with the approach of another depression from the Tasman Sea.

During the 20th and 21st the first depression moved away while a second moved very slowly eastward and lost intensity. Some rain was reported in most districts. On the 22nd, as pressures rose once again in the south and west, a cold front brought rain mainly to eastern districts north of Oamaru, with colder temperatures. On the 23rd pressures were high over most of the country but a depression was centred to the east of the North Island. Rain was still reported in Gisborne and parts of Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty. On the following day an anticyclone covered the whole country but some showers were still reported, especially in Coromandel. On the 25th a trough of low pressure brought rain to southern and eastern districts of the North Island besides Bay of Plenty, Nelson, and Buller. Temperatures remained cold in eastern districts of the South Island.

On the 26th a depression moved across Southland while two associated troughs of low pressure crossed the country. Temperatures became warmer and rain affected mainly the North Island with northern and western districts of the South Island. During the following 2 days the depression moved southward while pressures were high over the Tasman Sea and also to the south-west of New Zealand. Some rain affected most districts and temperatures became cooler. However, on the 29th and 30th a cold front brought southerlies with much colder temperatures and rain mainly east of the ranges. On the last day of the month a large anticyclone centred over Canterbury covered most of the country but pressures were low to the north. Temperatures remained very cold but rain was confined mainly to the Gisborne district, in the easterlies.

J. F. deLISLE, Director.

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

RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF THE RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND AS AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON WEDNESDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 1974

Liabilities

Notes in circulation .. .. .. $ 310,899,202
Demand deposits—
(a) State .. .. .. $ 126,946,721
(b) Banks .. .. .. 1,670,549
(c) Marketing accounts .. .. .. 20,756,492
(d) Other .. .. .. 222,763,663
372,137,425
Time deposits .. .. .. 137,743,992
Liabilities in currencies other than New Zealand currency—
(a) Demand .. .. .. $ 1,513,272
(b) Time .. .. .. ..
1,513,272
Allocation of special drawing rights by I.M.F. .. .. .. 63,288,346
Other liabilities (including accumulated profits) .. .. .. 32,046,300
Capital accounts—
(a) General Reserve Fund .. 3,000,000
(b) Other reserves .. 49,300,373
52,300,373
$969,928,910

Assets

Gold .. .. .. .. $ 704,991
Overseas assets—
(a) Current accounts and short-term bills .. .. .. $ 60,755,289
(b) Investments .. .. .. 182,920,813
(c) Holdings of special drawing rights 866,993
244,543,095
New Zealand coin .. .. .. 6,453,243
Discounts .. .. .. 8,000,000
Advances—
(a) To the State .. .. 74,583,459
(b) To marketing accounts .. 240,378,310
(c) Export credits .. .. 12,969,015
(d) Other advances .. .. 8,716,156
336,646,940
Investments in New Zealand—
(a) N.Z. Government securities .. 330,465,992
(b) Other .. .. .. ..
330,465,992
Other assets .. .. .. 43,114,649
$969,928,910

21 November 1974.

M. R. HUTTON, Chief Accountant.