WONT BEHAVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 5, 7 January 1929, Page 11

WONT BEHAVE.

HOLIDAY WEATHER.

A GLORIOUS SUNDAY.

HEAVY RAIN THIS MORNING

Aucklanders who spent Sunday bronzing their bodies on the beaches awoke this morning, scratched the more itchy patches of their sun-burned shouldere, and looked with incredulous eyes at bedroom windows streaming with rain. Those who slept soundly, after a glorious day out of doors, found it difficult to believe that yesterday's beautiful summer conditions had given place to a .eaden sky and pelting rain. The extra

""nip ,, in the morning tub was an immediate indication that the mercury had retreated several points.

Weather experts assert that a storm is developing westward of New Zealand, embracing another extensive rainetorm, and that an anti-cyclone is passing northward, with a moderate depression advancing across the Tasman Sea. Apparently the stormy conditions which set in before dawn to-day are a prelude to more rain, although sunshine and patches of cloud-flecked blue sky in the late forenoon gave promise of a return to more seasonable weather.

This morning's downpour will be appreciated by farmers of the Auckland province, although those late in getting their hay in, and some who have fields of oats in stook, would have preferred a continuance of bright sunshine.

The whole of the Auckland province has been thoroughly eoaked by the eoft warm rain which fell so persistently in the week between Christinas and New Year. These falls were very refreshing, and promoted a rapid growth of grass. At this time last year the countrywide was beginning to look parched. All the green had faded out of the Auckland landscape. Recent rains have made a repetition of such conditions this January unlikely. Auckland pastures cannot profitably go long without rain, but there has been sufficient to ensure a good month from a pastoral point of view.

Heavy rain began to fall at 4 a.m. to-day. At 9 o'clock the gauge registered 69 points, making a total of 82 points eince New Year's Day. In 1928 only 20 points fell throughout the whole of January, there being only three rainy days. So far this month there has been rain every day but one. January is seldom a really dry month in Auckland, since the average fall is 2.77 in.

Dairymen are well pleased, as the frequency of warm rain showers has further ensured the phenomenal production of butterfat which characterises the present season. It is unlikely that production will taper off suddenlv as it did in 19-28.

Hundreds of campers who deferred their annual holiday by reason of the Christmas downpours were much dietressed this morning. There are scores of motorists' camps along the West Coast, notably at Muriwai, and any reversion to the conditions which marred the Christmas holidays will drive many pleasure seekers back to the city. Moet Auckland people are rather indifferent about the weather go long as week-ende are bright. The city had donned mid-winter garb this morning, great-coats, umbrellas and occasionally goloshes, being seen in Queen Street, in contrast with the flimsy frocks and white flannels of yesterday.

From to-day "business as usual" is the rule in all business places, even the most indulgent employers expecting all hands to be on deck for an earnest start with the year's work. On thie day many commercial travellers hit the highway to work the North Island, after two or three weeks' respite in the city. With sample bags packed and order books dusted, these gentry of the open road viewed the rain with much displeasure,

:'nd took dejected farewells with gloomy thoughts of excursions into the mud which lies beyond the end of the concrete at Papakura.