INCONSISTENT SPRING

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1940, Page 6

INCONSISTENT SPRING

"THE WIND AND THE RAIN" TARANAKI UNPREPARED SEASONS BADLY MIXED It rained in Taranaki yesterday, and blew. There may have been some people who did not notice it, but it seems improbable. After a week of balmy weather not even the cynics were prepared for the change on Saturday night. In fact, they have a very real cause for complaint against the meteorologist or whoever it is that arranges these things. With malice aforethought the province was plunged direct from genial spring into the rigours of winter. A Little Mystcry. There was, however, something stranger still about the weather yesterday. Most keen observers admitted there was a wind with the rain and some felt compelled to believe it came straight off the Antarctic ice or the snows of Egmont. Misguided by tradition and prejudice and such simple rules of life. a reporter jumped to tVie conclusion that it was a bitter south wind — but he was wrong. Some said it came from the east. some from the west, others from the north (which was palpably wrong because the rain was not warm). Finally it was undecided whether it was north-east or north-west. One thing was certain — it was wet and cold and it was not the sort of weather for flying at the New Plymouth airport. Strange to say, though the day was continuously wet, 12 carloads of visitors went to the North Egmont hostel— and did their climbing round a log fire in the lounge. Between one ascent and another they played table tennis and had afternoon tea. Mr. H. Wood, manager, was pleased to see so many motorists but, in view of the rain, a little surprised. Heavy rain and a boisterous wind attracted nine cars to the Dawson Falls hotel, too. At least there was no other explanation for their excursion, unless it was the comfort of a fire around which the motorists sat philosophically. Even the New Plymouth fire brigade was affected by the weather. "Any fires?" asked a reporter last night. "Too wet."