COLDEST EVER.

Auckland Star, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 3

COLDEST EVER.

RAW MORNING IN GISBORNE. TWELVE DEGREES OF FROST. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) GISBORNE, this day. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the Gisborne district was registered this morning. There were 12 degrees ot frost. Only twice in ten years has there been recorded ten degrees or over. A number of water pipes in town and country were frozen this morning. Very cold conditions were experienced on the high country at the back of Gisborne yesterday, and 011 a few of the peaks there was a light fall of snow. On Mount Hikurangi, on the east coast, the snowfall was heavy. Shortage of rain at Gisborne during the first half of the present year was so marked as to cause apprehension among farmers as to prospects for feed during the summer. For the six months ended June 30 the total rainfall was only 13.19 in, of which 7.17 i 11, or considerably more than half, fell during January and February, while the average for the half-year is approximately 25in. The district lias not had what farmers consider a thorough soaking for several years, and the subsoil at present contains very little moisture, so that unless substantial rain falls during the remainder of the winter or spring trouble may be experienced in securing sufficient feed for stock.