THE WEATHER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 705, 6 January 1910, Page 3

THE WEATHER.

PREDICTION BY Mr. WRAGGE. Auckland, January-4. Mr Clement L. Wragge, the well-known meteorologist, arrived in Auckland this morning, after a lecturing tour through the Dominion. Reminded that, when in Auckland last January, he had prophesied a drought for the Southern Hemisphere, and, incidentally for New Zealand, Mr Wragge stated that he had no reason now to alter his opinion. Heavy rains had since fallen, and floods had taken place, not only in New Zealand, but in Australia. The explanation for this, Mr Wragge explains, is that the maximum mood or couditiou of the sun has been abnormal and abnormally prolonged. While the solar maximum lasted, the rainfall would be good in the Southern Hemisphere as a whole. Th solar minimum, however, is already overdue, and is uow actually coming. This means a deficiency in the rainfall south o( the Equator, and especially in continental countries such as Australia and South America. “We have already had a first inkling of the coming deficiency in the rainfall iu the drought that has actually been reported from Central New South Wales, this being followed by devastating bush fires,” said Mr Wragge. ‘‘ Other evidences are forthcoming in the lack of rainfall in Central Otago, where I have just been, and the drought that is still understood to be prevailing iu the Argentine, and other parts of South America. Whatever may have taken place in the last few mouths can only be taken as an indication that my prediction of a coming ;leficiency iu the rainfall within the next five years will be verified iu the main.”