OMINOUS WEATHER SIGN SEEN ABOVE WHALE ISLAND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 30, 8 December 1948, Page 4

OMINOUS WEATHER SIGN SEEN ABOVE WHALE ISLAND

What is supposed to be a certain sign of approaching bad weather was seen from Whakatane on Sunday. Towards sunset an almost perfect cloud cap covered the top of Whale Island for some considerable time.

This is one of the signs known by the Maori to denote a change in the weather. On Sunday at one time, there were two cloud caps together covering Whale Island. One obscured the peak while the other lay parallel a few feet immediatley above. This would appear to be a doubly ominous sign.

The Maori belief in these signs is interesting because they are usually correct. While not comparing the Maori as a weather prophet with the weather office, it is a fact that some of their prophecies have an uncanny habit of coming true. Whale Island itself is interesting from the angle of weather signs. According to the Maori a cloud cap hiding the tip of the island may mean either good or bad weather, depending from where it has come. If it rises from the base and settles then fine weather can be said to be lingering in the offing. But if the cloud comes from above and settles, 4 then the sign is bad and such weather can .be expected accordingly.

The use of Whale Island in foretelling weather is local and not universal as in the case with the Pohutukawa, the early flowering of which means an early dry summer. But it is similar to Mt. Egmont in Taranaki. Rough weather is always expected when the mountain peak is hidden.

However, unkind people who, of course, do not come from the province say that Mt. Egmont is the best prophet for Taranaki weather. Their allegation is that, if Mt. Egmont can’t, be seen its raining, and if it can be seen its going to rain anyway.