LOCAL CLIMATIC CONDITIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1750, 23 August 1917, Page 3

LOCAL CLIMATIC CONDITIONS.

Interesting reference to the climatic conditions prevailing in the Aianawatu and Wairarapa was made by Air -J. W. Poyntcm at the last meeting of the Palmerston Xorlh Philosophical Society. Air Boynton said: “The prevailing south-west winds, charged with moisture, which is moslly deposited on the west coasts of both islands, is a climatic feature of great imparlance. Kelson owes its sunshine and calm to the barrier of Mount Arthur and Ids lesser neighbour, while (Tie wet area from near Dannevirke to Ekelahmm is due to the gap of about 30 miles in the Ruahine mountains, which stretches from Shannon (o the north of (he Aianawatu Gorge. The moistureladen western winds blow through this low saddle, and the slight elevation given to the air current by the hills in this gap (they cannot bo. called mountains) cools it sufficiently to tiring about condensation from Woodvilte to Dannevirkc and Ekctahuna. Further south, on the west coast near'Otaki and Levin, the mountains attain a height of more than 5,000 ft, "In the path of the moving air they arc’like a huge rock in the decp-llowiug river. They cause a calm or backwash of air, as the rock does in the stream above it. For this reason Levin and Olaki are drier, sunnier, and less windy than either .Palmerston or Wellington. The almost constantly moving mass of air meeting with the obstruction of these lofty areas is divided, and swirls around them to the south through Cook Strait at Wellington, and to the north through the Shannon Gorge gap, like the water current at the sides of the obstructing rock. We have thus from different but clearly recognisable causes many climates which, despite our conrplaints about the vagaries of our weather, are fairly constant from year to year, and in lime will cause changes in ■ the nature of our introduced flora. These different soils and climates will be found suitable to the introduction of other plants new to us.”