RAINFALL AND FLOODS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1720, 10 April 1913, Page 6

RAINFALL AND FLOODS.

COLLECTION OF STATISTICS. The collection of rainfall statistics in. augurated in the chief centres of population in Now Zealand as early as tho fifties has been gradually extended around tins coast, and to a certain extent inland, by tho Meteorological Office, but in connection with the forecast of river floods and tho development of water • power, these coastal stations have proved insufficient. In order to these requirements a large number of rain guages iiuv© recently been obtained with tho object of establishing additional stations on the high lands and at tho sourccs and along the banks of tho principal rivers. It is anticipated that these will yiold a large mass of additional information which will bo of the greatest commercial advantage in futuro years. Many of these stations will be established in connection with country post officcs, but applications will bo welcomed from private persons who are interested in the rainfall, and who will bo prepared to undertake the duty of observation, Such applicants \yill be supplied with rain guages and necessary, instructions by tho Dominion Jletcolologist, Mr. D. C.' Bates, and thp results will bo recorded, and published in the Government Gazette with other meteorological observations, and also utilised in tho Meteorological Survey of New Zealand. An important aspect of this work will be the fuller observation of the rivers and the possibility of floods in lower reaches subject to inundation.' _