WEATHER RECORDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1921, Page 4

WEATHER RECORDS.

SITE FOR STATION WANTED. DIFFICULTY AT NEW PLYMOUTH. Further correspondence regarding the question of securing a suitable site for a meteorological station at New Plymouth v. as read at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. In reply to a communication from the council the Dominion meteorologist (Mr. D. C. Bates) wrote stating that the back portion of Maryland Hill was not suitable for a metecrological station for several reasons. He remarked: “Unless you are anxious for your city to be known as more windy than it really is you would not select the most exposed place on a hillside. It would not, again, give the true rainfall of the town, and the temperature would Le lower. Moreovet, there would be a daily difficulty of having the records taken by the observer. The Government has hitherto allowed a small amount for the observer at New Plymouth, but is at the present reducing expenditure, so that I could not atk anyone to undertake such a labor every day for such a pittance. If the Borough Council would undertake the observations, as is done in most cities in the Old Country. I am quite sure the Government would be prepared to meet ycu.”

Mr. Bates pointed out that the records >t New Plymouth should be representative of the Taranaki district, and any j ewcomers naturally looked for the records • its principal town. In the New Zealand Year Book he had lately been forced to take the Moumahaki records as representing the Taranaki district, and New Plymouth had to be dropped from the records of the chief towns. He expressed thanks to the council for the offer, but pointed out that the site was neither just to the town nor suitable to the requirements of meteorology. He regretted that the park authorities had not approved of the enclosure or cut down the trees as they had agreed to do, and trusted that the Borough Council and citizens would take a deeper interest in the work which really concerned the welfare of the whole community. It was decided to ask Mr. Bates to advise the council of his next, visit to New Plymouth, when an endeavor would be made to meet him on the question of site.