IS IT SO BAD?

Evening Star, Issue 15539, 8 July 1914, Page 8

IS IT SO BAD?

DUNEDIN WEATHER. Northern friends think our weather something upon which to commiserate with us, but Mr D. Taunock demonstrated to the Otago Institute by figures last night that even in climatic conditions Dunedin compares not unfavorably with other centres. The most interesting thing about, Dunedin (said the lecturer) was the rainfall. In the 12 months ended March 51, June was the driest month, only 91 points of rain falling. And the wettest was August, in which 771 points fell. That was the month in which Waipori was so knocked about and disorganised. The total rainfall for the year was 42.26 inches, and the number of days upon which rain fell was 170. But the instrument recorded l-100in, so that an infinitesimal fall would give a day the. adjectival description of “wet.” Now for a few comparisons The mean temperatures in the shade in the five principal centres were : Auckland 58deg, Wellington 55.2deg, Christchurch 51.8deg, Dunedin Sl.ldeg. and Invercargill SOdeg. The mean maximum temperatures were : Auckland 64. Idee. Wellington 61.1deg, Christchurch 60.6deg, Dunedin 58dcg, and Invercargill 58.2deg - . The mean minimum temperatures were : Auckland 58.9deg, Wellington 50-ldeg, Christchurch 45deg, Dunedin 44.2deg, and Invercargill 42.2deg. Dunedin was third, and this minimum temperature had an important hearing on gardening, because it was the minimum that decided whether a plant was hardy or not. One half-hour of frost of a certain number of degrees might kill a plant. Owing to Dunedin’s hidi minimum temperature plants could be° grown here which would not grow in other centres. So far ho himself had experienced no difficulty in growing all the North Island native plants. As to rainfall, tho figures for the year were: Auckland 37.04 in, Wellington 49.29 in, Christchurch 25.12 in, Dunedin 42.26 in, and Invercargill 48.82 in. But coming to the number of days on which rain fell Christchurch was lowest with 138, Dunedin next with 170, Auckland next with 181, and Wellington and Invercargill tied with 213.