DOMINION RAINFALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5482, 2 October 1929, Page 4

DOMINION RAINFALL

FIGURES FOR AUGUST. LOCAL RETURNS. In the Dominion climatological returns for August Orongorongo Reservoir, North Island, shows the heaviest rainfall—lB.27 inches—recorded in New Zealand in that month. Waihi returned 7 inches, Te Aroha 7.35, Paeroa 55.09, Turua 3.81, and Mangaiti 4.21. Of the chief stations Auckland again recorded the highest mean temperature in the shade with 52.1 degrees. The highest mean maximum temperature was registered at Te Aroha (59.2) and the lowest (28.8) at Lake Tekapo, South Island. Great Snowfall. The Government report says :— “The weather for August was mainly a repetition of the unsettled type experienced during the previous month, with the additional disadvantage of more frequent strong winds from both northerly and southerly directions. Temperatures were, on the whole, below normal, owing principally to the prolonged southerly spell from the 20th to the 27th, inclusive. Frosts were unusually numerous. Snowfall was even greater than last month in the mountain ranges of the South Island. At some of the highlevel sheep stations snow raking had to be resorted to. It is considered that there has not been so great an accumulation of snow in the mountains for about ten years. Although the growth of pasture was retarded somewhat by the cold temperatures, it was not altogether checked, for in most districts sunshine was fairly abundant, and while the nights were cold they were compensated for by many mild days. Furthermore, though cold, conditions were seldom severe. Stock have kept in good condition, and lambing averages, so far, have been satisfactory. In some districts, such as the central portion of the North Island, the heavy rain has caused some mortality amongst the newly born lambs. The cold and wet conditions were detrimental also to the milk supply from dairy herds. ”