DUNEDIN WEATHER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 69, 13 July 1914, Page 7

DUNEDIN WEATHER.

"NOT THE WORST IN N.Z." Some interesting figures were given before the Otago Institute last week by Mr D. Tannoek, F.R.H.S., superintendent of reserves, concerning the weather conditions of Dunedin. The following is taken from the Otago Daily Times : Mr Tannoek asserted that Dunedin weather was not the woi'st in New Zealand, as is so often said. He claimed a good climate for the city, and quoted figures in support of his contention, For the 12 months ended liiarch 31, lie said. June was the driest. month, with 91 points of rain. The instruments at the observatory, of course, could measure 1-100 of an inch, and so a day officially described as "wet," might be marked by a very small rainfall.

The wettest month was August, with a rainfall of 77! points. The total rainfall was 42 inches 26 points, and the number of days on which rain fell was 170. October was warmer than November, though this should not, in :he ordinary course of events, be the ease. In October, rain fell on 16 days, and in November on 19 days. For the different centres the mean temperature in the shade for the 12 months was 58 degrees in Auckland, 55.2 in Wellington, 51.8 degrees in Christchurch, 51.1 degrees in Dunedin, and 50 degrees in Invercargill. The mean maximum temperatures were as. follows:—Auckland 64.1 degrees; Wellington, 01.1 degrees; Christchurch, 43 degrees; Dunedin, 11.2 degrees; Invercargill, 42.2 degrees. It was, the speaker said, the mean minimum temperature at which a plant was able to live that determined whether or not it was hardy. It was found in Dunedin that, owing to the high minimum temperature, gardeners were able to grow a considerable number of plants that could not be grown in the other centres. The speaker had had no difficulty in growing the North Island native plants, and had grown the Nikau palm, for instance, in the open air. Reverting to figures, he said that, l in Auckland during the year, with which he was dealing, 37.04 inches fell o'i 181 days: in Wellington, 49.29 inches fell on 213 days; in Christchurch 25.12 inches fell onnib3B days; in Dunedin, 42.20 inches fell on 170 days; and, in Invercargill, 48.82 inches fell 'Xi 213 days. Christchurch had tiie lowest rainfall, Auckland the second lowest, and Dunedin the third, seven inches less than Wellington. Dunedin was the second lowest with regard to the number of days on which rain fell. "We have, therefore," the speaker concluded, "comparatively pleasant weather in Dunedin." Dr. Marshall remarked that in four years out of every five, it would be found that the hottest day in Dunedin was hotter than the hottest day in Auckland, though Auckland had more hot days in the agregate. •