A PLEASANT AUGUST.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 208, 2 September 1919, Page 6

A PLEASANT AUGUST.

THE SUNSHINE AND SHOWERS. The rainfall last month came in a plump, mostly last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and then, with dribbling contributions on the remaining 28 days, it amounted to three inches for the month, which is something over an inch I below the average and half-an-inch less' than fell the previous August. Meteorologically, as well as horticulturally, it was a dry month. For thirteen days out of the thirty-one the gardens of the district were gently sprinkled from the clouds, and then on Thursday last week it splashed just over an inch deep. Once upon a time, in 1870, August was a time of deluge in Auckland. The rainfall then was 10J inches, but it is not so very long ago that the month was notable for the brisk trade done here in overcoats and umbrellas, for in 1917 the recorded rainfall was 7.70 inches. The month just past was also pleasant in that it was cordial ; with sunshine to the extent of 140 hours >40 minutes, which, while 24 hours below i [the sunshine of last year's August, is just' on 24 hours ahead of the average. ' The rainfall for the eight months of the present year to date is 22.28 inches,! as compared with 35.91 inches during the 1 same period of last year. In the wet year of 1917 the fall up to September was o9i inches. The comparative figures I of the months for the past three years are:—

10W. January ... 1.70 February 0..S4 March 2.07 April 1.12 May 5.04 .Tune o.-lfi July 4.1.1 August o.Ol) 101S. 4.17 4.41 ."...■IS 4.08 7.0G r..!M 1017. :t.S4 12.67 0.31 8.01 5.41 O.ofl 7.70 Totals .... 22.2S 3S.01 50.25