ANNUAL RETURNS

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1937, Page 5

ANNUAL RETURNS

GREYMOUTH’S RAINFALL. Although Greymoutli has experienced exceptionally fine weather so far this Summer, the rainfall recorded for the twelve months ended to-day exceeded one hundred inches, due largely to the record rainfall experienced during the first months of the year, particularly January, February and March, during which over 35 inches fell. This year, rain has fallen on 204 days at Greymouth, for a total of 101.75 inches. Last year, there were more days on which rain fell, but the total was less, 96.63 inches. The quarter just past saw 41 wet days, compared with 60 in the corresponding quarter of last year, for a total of 18.77 inches. There was a very wet Spring and early Summer last year, there being 60 wet days in the three months, for a total of 30.15 inches of rain.

The following table shows the rainfall at Greymouth for December, for the whole year and the number of days on which it fell, for the- past five years:—

The wettest month this year was January, which established a record, with a total of 15.26 inches. On the other'hand, the dryest month was August, with only 2.39 inches, a record being established in this direction also, so that it has been a year of extremes as far as rain is concerned. The heaviest rainfall for any one day occurred on January 5. when the total for the 24 hours was 4.01 inches.

During the month of December, ended to-day, there were 15 days on which rain was recorded, for a total of 6.02 inches, the maximum fall for any one day being 143 points, on December 10- .In December last year, there were 18 wet days, for a total of 10-11 inches, the maximum fall being 210 points, on December 22.

Considerably more than half of the rain recorded this year fell during the first six months, there being 110 wet days u.p to the end of June, for a total of 56.04 inches. Thus, for the past six months, there have been 94 days on which rain has fallen, for a total of 45-71 inches.

SHIPPING FIGURES. Twenty vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of 5.705 tons entered the port of Greymoutli during the month of December, ended to-day, as compared with 22 vessels (11,158) in December last year. Outward vessels totalled 23 (10,317), in the month ended toda.v, compared with 25 (13,928 tons) in the corresponding period of last j-ear. During the quarter ending today there were 79 arrivals (32,149 tons), the same number as in the concluding quarter of last year, when tne tonnage aggregated 36,294 tons. Departures totalled 82 (33,889 tons) as compared with 81 (37,558 tons). During the twelve months ending to-day, 292 vessels entered the port of Greymoutli (142,959 tons), and there were the same number of departures (143,126 tons). Last year there were 312 arrivals 1141.721 tons) and 311 departures (137,643 tons) and in 1935, 306 arrivals and 300 departures.

Dec. . Year.' Days. 1937 6.02 101.75 204 1936 10.11 96.63 207 1935 4.26 91.37 164 1934 1.G3 86.09 177 1933 14,06 103.26 191