LIGHT RAINFALL LAST YEAR IN COUNTRY AREAS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23154, 17 January 1950, Page 4

LIGHT RAINFALL LAST YEAR IN COUNTRY AREAS

The rainfall last year in country and coastal regions in the Gisborne-East Coast area was the lightest for many years. The Waingake district experienced its lowest yearly aggregate since 1921. while at Eastwoodhill station it was the driest in the past eight years. Generally, the rainfall last month was a good deal below the total for December, 1948, but at two country stations the total was well in advance of that for the corresponding month of the previous year. These were Pukewhero station, in the Mangaoporo Valiev. near Ruatoria, where the totals were 6.05 m and 2.Min respectively, and Marumoko station, Motu. where they were 5.92 in. and 3.60 in. respectively. Returns received until today from the various localities are as under: — Rukuhanga station. Cape Runaway.— Monthly fall. I.BBin. C2.19in.); wet days, 8 (4): heaviest 24-hour fall, ,70in. on December 23; year’s total, 58.31 in. (65.33 in 1. «

Matarau station. Hick’s Bay.— Monthly total. 4.11 in. <4.89in.); wet days, 12 UOA heaviest 24-hour fall, 1.39 in. on December 23; year’s total, 98.71 in. (102.62 in.)

Pakihiroa station, at the foot of Mt. Hikurangi Monthly total, 6.11 in. (4.Min.); wet days, 6 (4); heaviest 24hour fall. 2.61 in. on December 26; year’s total, 102.96 m. (122.48 in.).

Pukewhero station, in the Mangaoporo Valley, near Ruatoria.—Monthly total. 6.05 in. (2.14 in.); wet days, 11 (5); heaviest 24-hour fall, 2.00 in. on December 23; year's total. 120.08 in. (121.57 in.).

Taoroa station, in the Makarika Valiev, at the foot of Mt. Aorangi.— Monthly total, 1.32 in. (1.72 in.); wet days, 10 (6); heaviest 24-hour fall, .30in. on December 25; year’s total, 57.6 in. (77.75 in.). Ruangarehu station, near Tokomaru Bay.—Monthly total, 1.14 in. (2.35 in.). wet days 11 (4); heaviest 24-hour fall, 44in. on December 23; year’s total, 51.64 in (77.68 in.).

Maungaorangi station, Pouawa.— Monthly total, .70in. (1.43 in.); wet days, 2 (2): heaviest 24-hour fall, ,49in. on December 3 and 4; year’s total, 57.51 in. (78.30 in.).

Eastwoodhill Station, Ngatapa.— Monthly total, .52in. (1.61 in.); wet days, 6 (4): heaviest 24-hour fall, .29in. on December 7; year's total, 29.15 in. (50.64 in.).

Waingake station.—Monthly total, l.lOin. (.63in.); wet days, 8 (4); heaviest 24-hour fall. .37in. on December 23; year’s total, 41.30 in. (60.93 in.). Parikanapa station, in the hill country west of Gisborne. — Monthly total, l.Min. (,81in.); wet days, 9 (4); heaviest 24-hour fall, .50in. on December 23; year’s total. 46.23 in. (80.29 in.). Last month’s total is well below the monthly average over the past 12 years of 2.75 in. The vear's total is 18.02 in. below the averase of 64.25 in. over the years from 1938 to 1949. . ~ Marumoko station, Motu. —Monthly total. 5.'92in. (3.60 in.); wet days, 11 (7): heaviest 24-hour fall, 1.16 in. on! December 6; year's total, 64.18 in. (99.27 in.). Hangaroa. Monthly total, .84in. (1.27 in.): year’s total, 36.00 in. (51.89in.)l heaviest fall for December over last 18 years, 4.40 in. in 1939; lightest, 49.001 n. in 1947; average over 18 years, 50.89 in.