OTAKI'S CLIMATE.

Otaki Mail, 18 August 1922, Page 3

OTAKI'S CLIMATE.

/ THE INFLUENCE OF THE MOUN- ; TAINS. j A locul resident, who says his observations over a series of years supi port the theory set up, forwards for I re-publication ttie following remarks . made some years ago by Mr J. W. Poynton, now S.M. at. Auckland, concerning the climatic conditions on this coast. He said: "The prevailing southwest winds, charged with moisture, which is mostly deposited on the west coast of both islands, is a climatic feature of great importance. Nelson owes its sunshine and calm to the hairier of Mount Arthur and his lesser neighbours, white the wet area from near Dannevirke to Eketahuna is due lo the gap of about 30 miles in the Ruahine Mountains which stretches from Shannon to the mouth of the Manawatu

t (.Jorge. . The moisture-laden western j winds blow through this low saddle, I and the slight elevation given to the aii; current by the hills in this yap ! (they cannot be called mountains) I cools it sufficiently to bring about con- ■ densation from Woodville to Danneivirke and Eketahuna. i'uithei .-.uuili. I on the west .oast, near Otaki and LeI viri, the mountains attain a height of j More than .MiOO leet. In the path of the ' i.loving air they are like a huge rock iii the deep-flowing river. They cause [ it calm or backwash ol air. as the rock i does in the stream of deep water. The climate of Levin and Otaki are drier, sunnier and less windy than either i'almeisiuii North or Wellington. The almost; constantly moving mass ol air .meeting with the obstruction of these lofty areas is divided, and swirls ; .juml them !u the south through Cook's Strait at Wellington, and to -enoith through the Shannon Gorge gap. like the water current at the -nles of the obstructing rook. Thus, fi.jin different, but elearl> recognisable muses, we have many climates, which. ' despite otn complaints about the vagaries of our weather, are fairly ■ 'instant from year lo year, and in tune will cause change* in the nature of nur introduced (Una. These different soils and climate-' will be found suitable to the introduction of other plants new to us.