RIVERLEA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 September 1925, Page 8

RIVERLEA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)^ . METEOROLOGICAL. The month of August was extremely variable, though showery weather predominated throughout, there having been no less than twenty wet days re-

corded, though on two of these a trace of rain only fell. It is somewhat remarkable that on tliei other eleven days no less than ten recorded frosts, so that only on one day was neithei frost or wet in evidence. In many ways it has been perhaps the most interesting month, meteorologically speaking, that I have ever had to do with. A month of duplicates in many ways and in. some eases of multiples. Tor instance"never before have I been able to record a maximum rainfall equal to two days in the month, and, what was more remarkable, on two succeeding days, viz., O.SS inches on the 23rd and 24th. Minimum precipitation is often duplicated, but this time both maximum and minimum were so as the lowest record was a trace of rain, and there again the coincidence; exactly 0.005 of an inch (not a bit less) fell on the 13th and 28th. Again, neither minimum nor maximum temperatures were recorded, as usual, on separate single days, the maximum be j„cr 53 deg. Falir. on four mornings and the. minimum 42 deg. on no less than six. The mean temperature was 47.5 deg. Fa.hr. The, barometer, also desiring to be in the fashion, showed even readings for minimum and maximum, viz., 20.00 on the 25th, 26th and 27th,’ and 30.00 on the I.7th. The poor thing fell short, however, and was unable to equal the- others, and only held its highest position on one day, though it made a noble struggle, for it read 29.75 on the 15th, 29.95 on the 16th, 30.00 on the 17th, 29.95 on the 13th, 29.75 on the 19th. The mean barometrical reading for the month was the high one of 2 ; 9.50 During the month there were ten fine days, of which no less than four were recorded as absolutely fine, viz., calm and clear of cloud. Four days were fair, seven cloudy and no less than ten were quit? overcast. Ten frosts • were recorded, of which three were rather severe and three were light, whilst one was a mere trace of frost. Winds were mostly light to breeze, though moderate gales prevailed on the loth, 20th and 24th. For the most part, they were of a southerly, setting, blowing from south of east and west on seventeen dfiys. Direction was as follows: N. two days; N.W. two days; W. four days; %W. one day; S. six days; S.E. ten days; .E. one clay; N.E, one clay; calm foui days. There were no prolonged dry spells, the only one lasting more than two days being between the 15th and 20th, The total rainfall for tlie month was 4.01 inches, which fell On twenty days and which is considerably below the average for August, . The average for the month is 5.22 The Avettest August in my records is that of 1916, when no less than 10.05 inches fell on 18 days, and Avlien there Avere four days with; o\*er an inch the four contributing 6.14 of the total for that August, The driest corres-j ponding month was that of 1914, Avlien; only 1.91 inches, fell on only eleven days, and Avhcn there Avas no rain after; the 13th of the month, the spell break-1 ing on September 1, Avhen 89 points' fell. :f -

There is one very popular idea in South Taranaki, particularly held by the people of the Plains, that we in these uplands live in a. variety of freezing chamber, and that the differ* ence between the temperature is some-; what akin to the tropics and the Arctic zones. Personally I’ve never been able to see it, and have been watching the point ever since. The Star has been printing the daily meteorological records, and the result of mv observation is that very rarely indeed is there, a difference of more than 2 cleg. Falir. in the temperature of Hawera and that, of Riverlea, either at- 9 a.m. or at noon. Once or twice even my reading lias been higher and a few times equal, and on several occasions the Hawera record has shown a difference of more, than the (as I now regard it) standard of two degrees difference, but nine times out of ten that is the difference between us. As regards the rainfall, I will at once admit we get more juice, just about 50 per cent, more in fact. As I write. T have at hand the records from the Gazette for February, March and June, and they are as follows: February. Hawera Post Office, 1.43 inches on seven days; Oh awe (Hawera). 2.85 on 10 da vs; 'Riverlea, 4.02 on 13 days. March', Hawera Post Office, 2.03 on eight days; Hatcheries. I.SO on 11 days: Oh awe, 1.95 on 10 days; Riverlea, 3.53 on 11 days. June, Hawera Post Office. 0.03 on 22 days; Hatcheries, 7.18 on 21 clays; Ohawe, 7.51 on 20 days; and Riverlea, 5.35 on 20 dlavs. For the same months Stratford had 7.07 inches on 11 days, 4.05 on 10 days, and 12.00 on 17 days; whilst Opunake had 4.45 on 10 days, 2.79 on. 10 days, and 0.94 on IS days. The popular fallacy that ; it is always raining at ..Stratford, nearly always at Riverlea. and) piijv now and again at Hawera and Opunake seems to be exploded. What apparently, happens is that we get .heavier rain when we do get it "than jHawera and Opunake, and that gets .it more heavy still. I regret that neither Manaia or Kaponga appear to have stations. Since writing the above I. have seen a paragraph regarding a rainfall record ; ( it . lyappuga which, however, I cannot accdpt as correct. It stated that, the ! pfppip ) ita,tjpn , for the twentyfour hours ended !) a.m. Saturday was 1.50 inches, which was probably right, as ,my gauge on that morning recorded 1.4(5 inches, but the. remainder of the report', viz., that this exceeded the total for the whole of August by .5 of pin.; inch, cannot be so, as T am absolutely certain that Ivaponga. gets at least, as: much ra.in as we do and as stated .above, our total for August .wn s ; 4.01 \n cl l cs.

Reverting again to the question of temperatures, T find the following interesting comparisons', taking just a few out of the stations recorded in tne Gazette, extract. ,-For January the mean temperature for Te Aroha was 08 dog. Fahr., Auckland (36.8, New 1 lyqiputh . 62.4, Napier 63.6, Wellincton 63.3, Nelson' (consistently the warmest place in the South Tslnpd) .61.4, Dunedin. 58.8, Hokitika 61. q, j and.,liiverca,rgill 58.0, Riverlea. mean temperature for tint •r'f rt 64 ** Pop PcWw Te Wr n ia xr -- of <>6.l, Auckland New. Plymouth 62.0, Name-r 64 7 Wellington 62.4, NeleJ’

church 59.8, Dunedin 55.2, Hokitika 59.5, Invercargill 56.2, and Eiverlea 62. For March Te Arolia. 63.1, Auckland 63.6, NeAV Plymouth 58.7, Napier 60.5, Wellington 60.2,- Nelson 58.1, Christchurch 56.2, Dunedin 55.4, Hokitika 54.3, Invercargill 55.0, and Riverlea 58.0. For June the Te Arolia figures Avere 51.1, Auckland 53.0, New Plymouth ,50.5, Napier 50.2, Wellington 47.7, * Nelson 46.2, Christchurch 41.0, Dunedin 42.2, Hokitika 44.2, Invercargill not given, and Rivcrlea 47.5. The highest temperature recorded in any of these months was 79.7, at Te Arolia. in January, and the lowest 23.7 in June, at Fairlie. Ei vorlea highest temperature ayms 78.0 on January 22 and the lowest was 38.0 on June 5. Nelson, usually the Avarmest place in the South Island, had a, maximum temperature in January of 71.2 (though Kisseltou recorded 73.1) and a minimum in. .Tune of 37.4.

The beginning of September lias been marked by,a severe- westerly low pressure AA’ith lienvy gales and. considerable rain. The disturbance culminated! in a severe electrical disturbance on Friday ea*cuing accompanied by much rain, hail and sleet. An extremely severe sleet shoAver fell shortly after 9 a.m. on that day, and' the barometer fell to 28.51. After this shoAver the barometer commenced to climb, and by 10 p.m. had risen to 2,9.10. It continued its upward course, and by 9 a.m. Sunday stood at 29.30 and Avas still rising. On Saturday and that, night, and. also on Sunday there Avere frequent sharp but. short hail sliOAvers, and the gale gradually dropped until on Sunday CA-euing a light breeze only avms blowing. It is to lie hoped, the improA-enieiit Avill continue, as the storm has been very seA-ero on the ca.ttle. PERSONAL.

I regret to report that Mr. T. Glass, of the local factory staff, met with a painful accident the other evening AA T hen returning home from Avork. It appears that, going doAvn the Manga-Avhero-iti hill the front fork of Mr. Glass’s bicycle broke, .as a result of Avhicli lie avusi throAvn heavily on his face, sustaining severe cuts and bruises. lie Avas picked up in a semiconscious condition by a- passing motorist and received medical aid, and later Avas able to return to his home, I hope soon to see him back at Avork again. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the committee avhs held on Tuesday last. Present Messrs. B. L. Webby (chairman), D. McLeod (secretary), W. W. Lonsdale, J. Stables, and M. F. Voullaire. The chairman reported that he had Avritten to the Taranaki Education Board asking for certain informa,tion as to avlio would benefit should the committee decide to inaugurate a treeplanting scheme on a portion of the grounds, and that lie had received a reply that the board Avould inquire from the Education Department and forward the information Avlien it came to hand. The chairman’s/ action was appro A-ed. The headmaster reported that fuel Avas becoming short, and it Avas' resolved to procure three sacks of coal. Some 'discussion took place regarding the. matter of certain, gates; Avhicli had. been asked: for, and of which the Education Board had Avritten that the architect Avould report on them. As nothing more had been heard so far, it Avas resoWed to d itiav the board’s attention to the matter, and also to the fact that, OAving to certain A\-in-doAVS not fitting properly, the rain avus getting in under them; also to again complain regarding the wash-hand bowls -i u Hie porch.

GENERAL NOTES. A very successful dance was held in the local ball on Wednesday last by the Rowan, Hall Committee, when about seventy couples graced the floor, 'and dancing was kept going with a swing to the usual excellent music provided by Messrs. Boulton and Vinsen. A dainty supper was provided by the Rowan ladies. During the evening several competitions were held, Mr. L. Webby, of Mangatoki, acting as judge for the waltzing competitions, whilst tlie duties of M.C. were capably carried out by Mr. E. Gibbons. The milk supply , a ,t the factory is rising 'rapidly anti the. output is now some thirty cheeses per diem. The factory tests/ for the period ended August. 31 ranged from 3.6 to 4.5.