UNUSUAL HEAT

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 96, 17 January 1933, Page 10

UNUSUAL HEAT

Wellington’s Summer Days HOTTEST SINCE 1927 Six Degrees Below Record FASHIONS IN THE CITY Waistcoats and necklets, even of tlie flimsiest material, ordinarily suffered by city workers of both sexes, were definitely out of favour in Wellington yesterday, which was .the hottest day for many years. After ten days of exceptionally warm summer weather with the thermometer mounting steadily, the city woke to a hot morning, and by 2.30 p.m. the temperature at the Kelburn Observatory had risen to 82 degrees in the shade, only six degrees below that of the hottest day ever known in the Capital. The official recording at the observatory has not been so high ( since 1927, when the temperature on a summer day was 84 degrees. At that time, however, the observatory was at Tiiorudon, and, being on the lower level, the temperature would naturally be higher. Officials at the observatory admitted that yesterday was probably quite as hot, if not hotter, than the day when 84 degrees was registered at Thorndon. most city workers would be ready to agree with this, and it is fairly certain that the heat on the lower.levels after noon was several degrees more intense than that at Kelburn. The temperature in the sun, of course, was 40 or 50 degrees above that in the shade. Although Wellington was not altogether unprepared for another hot day, few thought the city would become as uncomfortably hot as it did during working hours. Sunday was warm enough,' but there was a difference of over 12 degrees between the maximum temperature in the city on that day and yesterda More than a week of glorious weather has led to a minor sartorial revolution in the city. Business men who had previously been slightly disapproving of the summer habit followed by some of discarding the uncomfortable waistcoat, have somewhat furtively entered the city with tightly-buttoned coats to hide their own fall from fashionable grace. Yesterday, however, convention was thrown to the winds in inany instances, and hundreds of obviously hot but happily vestless men walked tlie streets with coats flapping open in defiance of the rules of correct'dress. The Merits of Headgear. The ambitious “boater” which lias been making a determined bid for renewed popularity, was seen more frequently. in Mie city streets yesterday than for years. 1 Whether, as a piece of headgear, it fulfills its summer functions and brings that coolness so much desired, is still a question iu dispute by those who adhere to the more conventional felt hat. Panamas, obviously well-worn, were resurrected by the score, Lambton Quay and Willis Street seeing dozens during the heat of the afternoon! Suu helmets also made an appearance, but there could not have been many who had bought these especially for the Wellington summer. Even a telegraph messenger, clad soberly in heavy blue,.appeared in the city on his cycle wearing a straw "boater.” In the seclusion of offices, coats were discarded with impunity, but even in the city streets or on the tramcars several men were seen carrying their coats over their arms. Crowds Seek the Water. The hot weather has attracted large numbers to the bays and beaches, and large crowds have been bathing In the cool of the evening during the past few days. The Te Aro Baths have been much favoured, and they were full almost all day yesterday, an exceptionally large number trooping there between noon and 2 o'clock in the afternoon, many city workers spending the greater part of their lunch-hour in the water. An indication of the high temperatures in Wellington during the past week, and of the progressive rise of the thermometer at the Kelburn Observatory, is gained from the following maximum temperature readings in the shade: Sunday, January 8, 67 degrees; January 9, 68.4; January 10, 74.1; January 11, 72.3; January 12, 77.3; January 13, 73.6; January 14, 67.7; January 15, 69.2; January 16, 82. FIERCE HEAT WAVE Manawatu’s Dry Spell Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, Jan. 16. The weather in Palmerston North for the last three days has been the hottest experienced this summer, the temperature varying from 81 to S 3 degrees in the shade. • The temperature on Saturday afternoon was 82 degrees in the shade. Yesterday was a hot day, the temperature being 81 degrees in tlie shade. Heavy rain looked imminent yesterday afternoon, but tlie storm passed over Palmerston North, where only a few points of rain fell. There was an electrical storm in the Foxton district and on the west of file ranges.

The weather was again oppressively hot to-day, and this afternoon the temperature reached 83 degrees. The sky clouded up (luring the afternoon, but nn rain had fallen this evening, though the weather is still looking threatening. The dry spell in the Manawatu district is lieconiing serious as far as pastures are concerned, and already dairy companies have noticed severe slacking off in supplies. GRASSLAND SUFFERS Position in Wairarapa Masterton, Jan. 16. Grassland in fhe Wairarapa is beginning to look very dry as a result of the prolonged spell of fine weather. The grass is browning up rapidly, and rivers and creeks are running very low. The lambs are fattening fast in the warm sunshine, however, and the killings at Waingawa Freezing Works are very satisfactory. There was a fairly heavy shower of rain in the South Wairarapa yesterday, districts up as far as Carterton sharing in the downpour. The northern Wairarapa has had no rain for ten days, however. and it is considerably longer since the ground had a good soaking. Temperatures continue liigh. 85.2 degrees in the shade being registered at Masterton this afternoon.