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Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1927, Page 2

Tuk ‘‘Lyttelton Times” e.f Christchurch, as will be seen by an article republished in this isiie, has offered a spirited defence ol the Westland climate and ef this locality in particular. It is the custom since the earliest days to joke about the weather on the West Coast, and some folk refer to it all too often as ‘‘wet. coast” weather Our rainfall here is probable abnormal by

coinj>:iriso ll wit!i some places. lr.it the average rainfall indicates that nature considers the country needs to renew the forest growth, and very benignly that quantity falls. It is in the region of 120 inches per annum. But equally so with the sunshine, there is an average quantity of bright sunshine necessary to assist in the growth of the wealth of forestry for which the district is famous, and so we linYc a record annually approximating 2,()('{) hours. The Christchurch champion points out lmw Hokitika weather for instance compares favourably whh many other centres. And the explanation might have hoen carried further. It is a fact that a great deal of our apparently abnormal rainfall (so to speak) falls overnight. This phenomenon is due mainly to the physical features which are apparent, the narrow coast line between the ocean and the high snowclad mountains. The water-laden clouds driftin'? inland from tlio sen reach the cooler atmosphere created hv the mountains, and condensation proceeds quite naturally at night when the effect of the sun has gone. This circumstance is part and parcel of that natural arrangement whereby we have the wealth of forest it is the privilege of this teritory to contain. We cannot escape the volume of rainfall because it is a natural provision, and wo benefit accordingly in the increased verdure with which all parts are .served. Our juxta-position to the ocean and the mountains serves to account for our seasonal changes, and we have some clue at least to the drier winters and the wetter summers. The laws of nature so operate by reason of the configuration of the country that we have a climate distinctive of the set of conditions prevailing along the seaboard. . Withal, it is a very healthy climate, another fact our contemporary could well have mentioned. Indeed. the rain helps as a ready. scavenger in many sanitary ways to keep places clean and sweet. Nature is full of surprises for us. and here she works in the same wonderful and mysterious way to make Westland by no means an undesirable place to live and enjoy life in.