RAINY WAIHI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 833, 3 June 1910, Page 2

RAINY WAIHI.

SOME .INTERESTING FACTS. , (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, June 1. The peculiar meteorological conditions at Waihi were explained to the Silting Commission iu an interesting manner at Paeroa yesterday by Mr. H. B. Devereaux, who said that during tho five months of the present year 52.75 in. of rain hare fallen, which is equivalent to 129 per cent of the annual rainfall in Auckland City, namely, 41.3 in. During a period of ten years the average, annual fall in Wailii was 83.5 in. This phenomenal record, Mr. Devereaux attributed to the remarkable topographical feature of the Waihi district. The moisture-laden easterly winds, he said, met a high and abruptly rising coastline, which was in fact the first obstruction which they encountered after crossing the Pacific. Very little rain came from a westerly direction. Tropical storms from the northward impinged on tho range, they then passed to the east of Waihi, and sometimes across to Gisborne. The unusual amount of moisture which had. fallen during the past years was due, said Mr. Devereaux, to an abnormal number of tropical cyclones which had come from the north. On tho occasion of the heavy floods of March last 12.15 in. fell in 12' hours and a half, or 14in. in 16 consecutive hours, the enormous downpour of 2.19 in. occurring in one hour,, namely, from midnight on March 29 to 1 a.m. next day. This was the heaviest fall lie had ever known, hut on July 3, 1909,6.43 in. descended in eight hours and a half, l.dsin. falling in 30 minutes. In January, 1907. tho ocoasion of the famous summer flood, 21.5 in. came down in nine days. A peculiar feature, Mr. Dovercaux said, was that the rainfall at several adjacent places was very much smaller, that at Turua. for instance, be'ng 50 ner cent, less than at Waihi.