1426
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
No. 54

The ‘normal’ refers to the present site of the instruments.
Standard period for normals is 1941–1970.
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 MARCH 1977

General—During March pressures were higher than usual over all of New Zealand, with predominantly westerly winds in the south of the country and easterly in the north. The month was very dry in Canterbury, and had been dry in Northland and Auckland until the 21st of the month when substantial rainfalls were recorded over a period of 3 days. This was a rather sunny month over the greater part of the country. Some farmers in Northland reported dramatic pasture recovery after the heavy rain, but others found that grass growth was insufficient to keep stock in good condition. In the South Island some areas were experiencing near drought conditions with fruit ripening too rapidly.

Rainfall—Rainfall was above normal in most of Northland and Auckland and parts of Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, and Westland, while in some areas of Northland it was above by as much as 75 percent. Glenbervie Forest recorded more than 275 mm during the month, most of this amount falling between the 20th and the 23rd. The rest of New Zealand had below normal rainfall with some areas in the Waikato, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago having less than 25 percent of their normal fall for the month. Lowry Hills, a rainfall station in North Canterbury, recorded no rainfall during the month, and this has never occurred before in any month since the station started in 1947. Many stations in Canterbury recorded totals of less than 2 mm for the month.

Temperatures—Temperatures were above normal over the whole of New Zealand with the exception of the Wellington area and parts of Southland where they were slightly below. Parts of Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Nelson were as much as 1°C above normal. Temperatures were well below normal on the 25th this being the coldest day during the month.

Sunshine—Sunshine was above normal over the whole country apart from Northland, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, parts of Wairarapa, Nelson, and Marlborough. Areas of Westland, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland had as much as 40–60 hours more sunshine than normal.

Weather Sequence—At the beginning of March a ridge of high pressure extended onto the South Island with a ridge over Northland moving away to the east. Between these ridges a cold front moved northwards over central New Zealand and the North Island. Rain was recorded in Nelson, Marlborough, Wellington, and Wairarapa, with isolated showers in many parts of the North Island. By the 3rd the cold front had moved away from the country and an anticyclone became established over New Zealand giving settled weather until the 6th.

The anticyclone had begun to weaken and move towards the east; on the 6th a cold front associated with a low pressure area to the south of the country approached the South Island. As the front passed over the country on the 7th and 8th considerable rain fell on the West Coast, some stations reporting between 80 and 100 mm. Temperatures were warm in Canterbury, Poverty Bay, and Hawke’s Bay.

On the 9th a low pressure area had developed to the north of the country, with an anticyclone centred in the Tasman Sea extending a ridge of high pressure onto the country. This anticyclone persisted for 3 days until the 12th when pressures became low to the south of New Zealand and the cold front associated with this low pressure area approached the South Island. By the 13th this cold front had moved northwards over the South Island and onto the North Island. Rain was reported in all places west of the ranges. Temperatures were very warm in Canterbury and Poverty Bay on the 13th.

An anticyclone was centred over the whole country from the 14th to the 16th with pressures falling to the south. On the 16th and 17th a cold front passed over the South Island bringing considerable falls of rain to the West Coast and showers to Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. The cold front weakened as it approached the North Island and only a few areas had some light showers. An anticyclone moved onto the country from the Tasman Sea, later on the 17th, and pressures became low to the north of the country. On the 18th this anticyclone had moved to the east and a cold front was crossing the South Island bringing rain to the West Coast and Southland. Temperatures were warm on the east coasts of both islands.

By the 19th the cold front had moved over the North Island and a ridge of high pressure extended onto the South Island and central New Zealand. The low pressure area to the north of the country had developed and a small depression was moving southwards towards the North Island. Temperatures were warm on the east coasts of both islands. On the 20th the ridge of high pressure had become established over the South Island and central New Zealand with pressures falling in the north of the country. The depression to the north of the country continued moving towards Northland. The warm front associated with this depression brought rain to Northland on the 21st, and by the 22nd the depression had moved onto the North Island. Heavy falls of rain were recorded in Northland, Auckland, and parts of Poverty Bay, with as much as 200 mm in 48 hours in some areas of Northland. As the depression moved south on the 23rd substantial rain was recorded over most of the North Island and showers in parts of Marlborough and northern Canterbury.

On the 24th the depression had moved south-east away from New Zealand and an anticyclone was centred over the country later in the day; pressures were low near Tasmania. Temperatures were cold east of the ranges in both islands on the 24th, and on the 25th they were cold over the whole of the country.

From the 25th to the 28th the anticyclone persisted over the whole country and the depression near Tasmania moved slowly over the country between the 29th and 31st, and rain was recorded in most of the country west of the ranges. Temperatures were warm in the South Island and the east coast of the North Island.

J. S. HICKMAN, Director.

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

BANKRUPTCY NOTICES

In Bankruptcy

MARIE STUART ARMITAGE (also known as MARIE STUART POWER), prison inmate, care of Christchurch Women’s Prison, formerly of 4 Edward Avenue, Christchurch, was adjudged bankrupt on 17 February 1977. Creditors meeting will be held at Committee Room, Fourth Floor, State Insurance Building, Hereford Place, Christchurch, on Tuesday, 17 May 1977, at 11 a.m.

IVAN A. HANSEN, Official Assignee.

Christchurch.

In Bankruptcy

VICTOR HERBERT GADSBY, of 183 Huxley Street, Christchurch, cable coiler, previously a self-employed builder, was adjudged bankrupt on 15 April 1977. Creditors meeting will be held at the Conference Room, Eleventh Floor, Housing Corporation Building, Cathedral Square, Christchurch, on Monday, 16 May 1977, at 11 a.m..

IVAN A. HANSEN, Official Assignee.

Christchurch.

In Bankruptcy—Notice of Order Annulling an Adjudication (Section 119, Insolvency Act 1967)

TAKE notice that the order of adjudication, dated 18 June 1975, against DAVID CARRICK ROBERTSON, formerly of Auckland, unemployed, but now of Blenheim, workman, was annulled by Order of the Supreme Court at Auckland, dated 30 March 1977, such annulment to be effective from 18 June 1975.

Dated at Auckland this 28th day of April 1977.

P. R. LOMAS, Official Assignee.

3rd Floor, Fergusson Building, 295 Queen Street, Auckland 1.

In Bankruptcy—Notice of First Meeting

IN the matter of PAMERA TE RUHI WARNER, Kakanui, Kaukapakapa R.D., also known as PAMELA LOUISE WARNER, a bankrupt. I hereby summon a meeting of creditors to be held at my office on the 16th day of May 1977 at 10.30 o’clock in the forenoon.