USE OF RAIN GAUGES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24882, 23 May 1946, Page 6

USE OF RAIN GAUGES

EXTENSION OF WORK IN N.Z. A big extension of the number of. rain gauges in use throughout New Zealand was reported to the conference of New Zealand catchment boards yesterday by Mr H. F. Toogood. At work this year there were 600 manual rain gauges and 400 automatic gauges. As well, another 400 manual and 100 automatic were to be installed. These would give a wider national coverage bf rainfall recording, but at the same time it would only be a bare skeleton of a national network. Catchment boards could help the plan by installing gauges of their own. but it was emphasised that they should all be standardised, so that the data could be correlated. Dr. George Jobberns (North Canterbury) said that hydrological data were essential for catchment boards. His board had gauges on order. Several speakers spoke of the excellence of the meteorological organisation built up by the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the war. and it was suggested that there were a number of well-trained men now available.

The chairman (Mr W. Machin) said that his board envisaged the possibility of securing" data correlating heavy rainfall in the back country tributaries of the big rivers with the prospects of floods in the lower reaches. If their plans were successful, it might be possible to warn farmers when floods were likely. It was decided that a copy of Mr Toogood’s report should be Sent to each board. Mr Toogood is a member of the hydrological technical committee of the Soil Conservation and River Control Council.