A HOT, DRY MONTH

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17937, 4 December 1923, Page 6

A HOT, DRY MONTH

OBSERVATIONS FOR

NOVEMBER.

That tho average man was right in thinking that November was ono of tho hottest months experienced in Christ church for a long time is born© out by the figures recorded at the Christchurch Observatory. November was, in point of fact, one of the hottest months since January, 1917. The mean maximum temperature for the month was 71.7deg. in the shade, the mean minimum was oOdcg., and tho approximate mean was 60.9deg. The. highest temperature was recorded en the 23th, when 90deg. wore registered, and "the' lowest was recorded on tho 12th when the shade temperature was sun were correspondingly high on tho 28th. when 146deg. were recorded. The lowest sun temperature was recorded on tho 12th, when 33.2deg. were registered on tho grass. On only nine other occa*sions since. 1905 has the monthly mean, temperature reached or exceeded 71.7 — the November figures. For the purposes of comparison, these will be mtcrest- ° Highest mean Month. Year. Temperature. December 1907 74.3 January 1908 73.4 December 1909 71.7 February 1910 72.5 January 1913 72.5 January 1914 75.0 December 1916 74.0 February 1910 71.9 January 1917 72.1 It will be seen that the highest mean temperature ever recorded for a month, was 75.6deg. in January, 1914. Tho rainfall for November was as low as the temperature was high. Rain fell on two days, the total rainfall being ,52in. On the 12th of the moijth .49iii of this total was recorded. This is much lower than the usual rainfall in November. The average fall recorded for November over the last twenty years is l.Gin. The driest November was experienced in 1916, when only .47oin of rain fell in Christchurch. Officials at the Christchurch Ohserva<tory state that the high temperatures recorded during the month, were due to the continued, north-west upper currents of air. These were persistent throughout the month, even at times when the wind was blowing from other directions at a lower altitude. The barometer readings for tho month were: Maximum (November 4th) 30.3G4in, minimum (November 24tli) 29;541in, mean reading 29.909 in.

CENTRAL OTAGQ'S PLIGHT. (special to "ths pbess.") DUNEDIN, December 3. Otagp is expeifjenjcting exceedingly hot weather for this time of the year. In Central Otago the drought continues, and rain is urgently needed. To make matters worse the big irrigating channel in the Manuherikia Gorge broke away on Saturday, and it is expected that repairs will take a month to complete. This is most unfortunate for the settlers, who have been making good use of the water. The continued spall of dry weather has resulted in a transformation scene. The lovely green sheen which was a delight to the eye has given place to a dismal brown colour. LITTLE RAIN AT NAPIER. (pRjBSS ASSOCIATION 1 TJSLEORAM.) NAPIER, December 3. Only 23 points of rain were rooorded in Napier during November.

"KEEP TO THE LEFT" RULE ADOPTED IN WELLINGTON. (SPECIAL TO "TUB PEEBB.") WELLINGTON, December 3. The Wellington City Council has at last madp up its mind to adopt the "Keep to the left" rule on footpaths. The by-law reads as follows: — (1) Every person travelling along any footpath of any street, private 6treet, or private way in the city shall keep as near as possible to the left or near side of such footpath. (2) Every such person when meeting any other such person travelling in the opposite direction, shall pass on the left or near side of such footpath. (3) Every 9 cb person when passing any other such person proceeding in the same direction shall pass on tho right or off-side of such other person.

OPERATION AT SEA.

IMPROVISED INSTRUMENTS

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TKLEGBAM)

AUCKLAND, D>ecember 3

A successful operation was carried out at sea last Monday on the Port Victor, which arrived from Liverpool to-day. A seaman, L. Willis, developed an abscess just l>ehind the ear, and this was removed by Dr. Bransgrove, the anaesthetic being administered by a lady doctor, Miss E. M. Hubbe, of Adelaide. As l)r. Bransgrove's instruments were in another steamer, it was necessary to improvise cliisels, the ship's carpenter and chief engineer assisting in this jaatter. The chief engineer and a passenger assisted at the operation, which was performed in the saloon, the slap's speed being reduced for two hours.