SUMMER COMES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18903, 19 January 1927, Page 10

SUMMER COMES.

YESTERDAY'S HEAT WAVE. EXODUS TO BEACHES. Yesterday Christchurch had a taste of real summer weather, when the thermometer reeorded a maximum temperature of So.u degrees in the saado, this record being reached at 4.15 p.m. With the wind from the nor '-west in the early morning, it was soon apparent that the day would bo exceptionally hot, and there was a great exodus to the beaches where largo numbers enjoyed the cool surf.

Trams to both New Brighton aad Sumner were crowded, and there wero more people at the beaches than has been tho case on any previous occasion this summer. Tho . Gardens and sheltered riverbanks also claimed liberal patronage, and it seemed that everyone who could possibly do so was getting away from the heat of the pavements and streets.

Fortunately, the humidity was low, the maximum of 41 per cent being recorded at 5 p.m. There was a light breeze from the west which brought some relief, but even late in the evening tho atinosphero was still oppressive, and tho attendances at the various theatres suffered in consequence.

The previous highest temperature recorded this summer was S4 degrees on December Bth last. Yesterday was hotter than any day last summer, and its maximum temperature was exceeded only as far back as March Bth, 1924, when a maximum temperature of 89.8 degrees was recorded. "Coats cfl" was the slogan at many of the picture theatres in Christehurch last evening. The theatres were oppressively hot, and very many of the men present sat in shirt sleeves. Conditions in the country districts were similar to those in town, and fanners, who have long been wishing for a hot spell to ripen off their crops, have had their desire fulfilled.