PARTICULARS NOT AVAILABLE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 99, 27 April 1923, Page 8

PARTICULARS NOT AVAILABLE

When official particulars in connection with the recent heavy rainfall in Auckland and Dunedin were sought by a "Post" reporter to-day, the Director of the Meteorological Office (Mr. D. C. Bates) made the following reply: "Yours is the first request I have had with regard to the heavy rainfall; but I cannot answer you, for, as a matter of fact, I do not know how much rain has fallen either in Auckland or Dunedin. The only report I have had sent to me is a newspaper clipping—an article from the 'Evening Star,' Dunedin, which came to hand this morning, and which gives no account of what quantity of rainfall was recorded in that city. I expect no information until the beginning of next month when the monthly reports come in from our observers. When these are prepared I have definite instructions to pass'them on to you, only through the Secretary of Marine. I do not get telegraphic weather reports of rainfall from many parts of the country, and 'The Post' has complained of this omission several times. It is useless for you to ask me for information which is not supplied." "Can you supply any details of the recent heavy rainfall in Auckland or give any information regarding the electrical disturbances at Dargaville, reported in 'The Post' yesterday?" the reporter asked. "Nothing beyond what has been published in the daily telegraphed reports," Mr. Bates replied. "From whom can the information be obtained?"—" Only from the local observers, who are under no restrictions." "Is there any possibility of the electrical storm at Dargaville affecting weather" conditions elsewhere, say in Wellington?"—"l have been too busy to read the papers about such things. I have had no report about it, and have not seen it in the papers." The request for information was pursued no further.