THE WEATHER.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15478, 4 January 1916, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

TO THE KDITOR OT "THE PRESS." Sir—My attention was drawn a day or two agco to a letter from a correspondent signed J. 11. Wilkinson, which appeared in your journal of December 23rd, such letter referring to the weather conditions prevailing in Canterbury during the past six months, and incidentally, dealing with the Government official forecasts, and presumably those issued by myself. My name is mentioned in conjunction with the Government meteorologist, your correspondent evidentlv desiring tp know why the weather forecasts of late have been so inaccurate as regards th<« Plains, and expressing a wish that either the Government meteorologist or myself would inform the farming community and others why this is so. I do not know whether your correspondent follows up .regularly my forecasts, but if so he should have noted before coupling mv name with the Government meteorologist for an explanation that the "almost daily forecast of general rain" does not apply to "Mr "Wooles," if it does to the Government Meteorological Department. For the benefit of your correspondent and others, I can say this, that, although the climate of the Canterbury Plains is so erratic, the probable weather conditions can be forecasted a day or so ahead with an 85 per cent, to 90 per cent, reliability, taking the forecasts generally and not including the mountainous back country, which presents a simpler-problem. I do not profess to be a speaker, but I am Quite prepared to read a paper and facts dealing with Canterbury weather conditions to the Farmers' Union or any other association that may be interested in the matter.—Yours, etc..

F.. L. WOOLES. Christchurch, December 30th.