OGG'S WEATHER FORECASTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 63

OGG'S WEATHER FORECASTS.

I The weather forecasts of Mr J. Gumming | Ogg, of New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland* are to hand for the six months commencI ing with July and ending December. On I the present occasion Mr Ogg has specially, ! included New Zealand. In a. general way, these forecasts may be useful " when they, > are correct, bii£ anyone who has studied th£ weather in New Zealand will speedily realise that the conditions are so varied in! different localities that no forecast is cor* rect beynd a limited area. The conditions are generally very local. For inj stance, last week torrential rains and gales j prevailed in some parts of the North' Island, while in the South ideal summe-u weather prevailed. Let anyone recall thee | disastrous snowstorm of July last year in , parts of Central Oftago and South Canter* bury. Beyond a downpour of rain, which; caused floods on the Taieri Plain, thera" I was nothing exceptional in other portions lof Otago and Southland. Time and again; I in some portions of the coastal district^ I there is a cry of too muoh rain, whilff ! drought conditions are the rule in Central Otago. There is no intention to decry Mj» i Ogg'e forecasts; they are probably as near; being correct for some portion of the Dominion or parts of Australia «s can be expected. But the particular districts to be affected are not specified. Let us take the forecast for last week, for instance: — "Very changeable week, and win- | try conditions are once more experienced. Squalls of snow, sleet, hail, and oc«u ' sional lightning are encounted in the cle< vated districts. Barometric gradient< j steepen considerably, hence a gale prc< 1 babfy sweeps the coasts about the 4th inst.^ 1 and general rains, which will culminate in. 1 floods in some parts." The forecast i< typical of early spring weather, whicn would prove fairly correct for the first week in August at any time. And it w£< correct for some parts of the North Island, but entirely out so far as most of tli* South Island was concerned. Here is thi^ week's forecast: "Moderate rain ove< greater portion of the Dominion, ale« snowing and sleeting in elevated parts< , Blizzards in the mountains. Gales front north to west, then south to east. Wild weather for shipping." So far as the week has gone the .conditions in the Soulft Island are the reverse of the forecast. Further blizzards are promised next week, and for the last week in this month tho forecast is .intensely cold weather,, with' smart snowstorms, almost general, and vivid lightning-. In the first week in Sep« ' tember "terrible snowstorms on the moun< 1 tains" are predicted; heavy falls of Bno\r on tho mountains are predicted for th« , second week ; fogs, frequent spells of damp • weather, and high winds for the third. I week ; and dismal wet and blowy weather , for the fourth week. For October we ar« ' promised briliant weather, though rathe* low temperatures, in the first week; passing showers and changeable in the second! week, cool to warm in the third week, and thunderstorms^ hail, general frosts, sleet, etc., in the fourth week. The first week in November is to be settled and mostly fair, but for the second week snow is forecasted with frosts, which will play havoc with the crops in certain belt 6. For the third week rain, more ground frosts, blighted vegetation, and then great warmth is promised, and for the fourth week thunder, very cold, and boisterous I weather. For December volcanic activity. 1 is said to be probable in the first week, rain, thunder, and some snow in the second week, unsettled and tempestuous weather in the third week. For Christmas week the weather is to be unpleasantly hot, but this will be relieved by eummel showers, and the weather will tvan pleasant and cool. The disinfecting' process which was tt* cently employed in a house in Giore wheT« infectious disease occurred proved' somewhat damaging, and the irate ratepayer affected wrote to the council (says the Ensign) aso demanded £10 as a solace. The council has deckled to offer the householder £2 10( without prejudice "That is not much tq offer & ma a who claims £10," commented Cr MTDougall. Thereupon Cr Smith sai^ he knew of cases where * vaaja. claimaA £sno and sot a farthinac.