THE COLD BLAST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 74, 20 December 1917, Page 9

THE COLD BLAST

METEOROLOGICAL MADNESS

MIDWINTER IN MIDSUMMER (By "Sylvius.") ' Whavs gone wrong with the weather? Here it is midsummer in the astronomical sensej yet we are perishing in the cold biast, which would do Infinite credit to July. To watch the people on Lambton Quay yesterday afternoon one would never imagine for a second that wa were within a week of Christmas. Men in action hurried along in waterproofs or "warmers," gloves, and goloshes, aud those who wished to yarn sought sheltered nooks that escaped the fury of tho searching southeasterly gaie. The ladies found themselves under tho sudden necessity of having to lay aside the white suede shoos and silk st'ocETngs, transparent tinted silks aud coloured sports coats that made one giddy to contemplate, and dig up the old black skirt, tho thicl-soled brogues, and rainproof coats of midwinter to meet the sudden change. Weather in Wellington is vagarious, everyone will admit, but it is raic thai one gets a southerly "off the ice" within hailing distance of Christmas. It is too bad! It has helped to stonv the flow of holiday spirits that was setting in; it has lessened the sale of ico cream, and seriously interfered with tho sale of tho diaphanous drapery so bewitchingly affected by ilii) tantalising Bummer girl. . . The beaches, too, have lost their salt savour. Under leaden skies the* breakers look ugly and" menacing, instead of croamily inviting; those who do venture into tho water are mostly those hardy folk who boast that a sea bathe does good at all seasons of the year.. . . . They may be right, but there : aro quite a number ot people who would disagree with them. ... Few normal people woulu willingly and cheerfully lace the drear, whistling southerly as it rushed in front the Strait ;at Lyall Bay yesterday. The abnormal we havo always with us—at the bays. Thoy, are people who are never known to catch a cold in tho head; never havo corns, and never, oh, Uevet, play tennis on Sunday I Tho 'Government Meteorologist does not appear to be able to cast muck light upon the reason for this caitsizing of the seasons. Hero is somotning quite remarkable, quite abnormal, yet the reports read as though the weather was quite seasonable, that "all's well with the'world." Tho Meteorologist simply forecasts more of what wo are getting without giving any explanation as to why, which is exasperating, to Bay tlie least, i . . . The only thing reasonably seasonable in yesterday's report was the statement to tho cfleet that tho glass is unsteady. With old Daddy Christmas coming along the road in the middle distance, one need not he alarmed at any ephemeral unsteadiness on the part of anyone or anything; indeed, glasses arc directly associated with a departure from equilibristic perfection at 'the festive season, and why not the one used by Mr. Bates? ' . But chocr up, there's

lots of bluu abovo the grey, and lots of holiday sunshine ahead to Brighten the holidays so nenr at hand.