JANUARY RECORD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 9

JANUARY RECORD.

LOWEST RAINFALL KNOWN.

TOTAL OF ONLY 0.201N

DROUGHT IX THE WATERSHED

January this year has established a record as the driest known in Auckland in the last 60 years. The rainfall was only 0.20 in, or 0.25 in lower than in January, 1908, which formerly had the lowest rainfall with 0.45 in.

In the Waitakere Ranges the drought has seriously affected the city watershed areas. At Nihotupu the rainfall this month was only 0.22 in, and at Waitakere 0.30 in. In all case-s the observations show that records have been established.

A review of the past four months shows that the total rainfall at Nihotupu has been 11.24 in, and at Waitakere 10.24 in, compared with 38.74 in and 35.24 in respectively for the same period last . year. The details are, 1926-27 figures being in parentheses:— Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Nihotupu 4.2fl 3.62 3 11 23 , (11.19) (9.10) (14.57) (3.88) Waitakere... 3.69 3.26 299 30 (9.13) (9.0O) (13,55) (3.56) "It is clear that our action in the early part of December in curtailing the water supply by placing a ban on the use of hoses was fully justified," said Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the Water Committee of the City Council, to-day. Mr. Allum added that the water in storage was sufficient to supply the needs of Aucklanders, but if the dry spell continued for an undue period the need of considering further restrictions would become imperative. The ban on hoses and the campaign for the elimination of waste kad created a position which, compared with that of a number of the outer districts and the province generally could be regarded as satisfactory. Not only was there still ample water in hand for natural domestic purposes, but also the purity of the water was undoubted, as the regular analysis had shown perfect results. Dry Months. Although the January just passed has been exceptionally dry, it is .not the driest month that Auckland has had, aft the record"is held by February, 1905, when .06in wa* the reading on the Albert Park rain gauge. Another exceptionally dry month was March, 1869, when the rainfall was 0.30 in, and December, 1897, 0.13 m.

In regard to January observations, the average rainfall as shown by the gauge at Albert Park is 2.77 in, the wettest January having been in 1907, when 7.45 in rain fell.