WHEN WINTER COMMENCES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 154, 15 June 1932, Page 10

WHEN WINTER COMMENCES.

(To the Editor). Sir, —I noticed an answer to a cor respondent in last evening’s “Tribune” in wh/i it was stated that winter in New Zealand commenced on June 21st. May I suggest to your correspondent that it is not always wise to believe everything that one reads in the paper, and 1 would also like to mention that the winter, which the pessimists declared was to be the worst we ever experienced, is nearly over, and that spring will soon be here. If your correspondent were to ask of some of the explorers who visited tho Antarctic regions he or she might be able to get some really worth while information as to the date of midwinter in the Southern Hemisphere.— I am, etc., OPTIMIST. Hastings, 14/6/32. According to Whitcombe’s New Zealand Diary, autumn begins on March 21, winter on June 21 (the shortest day), spring on September 23, and summer on December 22 (tho longest day), From observations extending over a number of years, it appears that, on the average, the hottest period is from January 21 to 25 and the coldest from July 20 to 24. These periods, therefore, are the natural mid-summer and mid-winter. In England spring is given as on March 21, summer June 21, autumn September 23, and winter December 22. In Australia the dates are given as follows: Winter, Juno 1, spring, September 21, summer, December 21, and autumn, March 21.—Ed. 11.8. T.