THE WEATHER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14988, 7 May 1909, Page 6

THE WEATHER.

Prophetic: Nature does not hare her story to everybody, and those choSon spirits to whom she is supposed to give her confidence do not loso sight of this fact in their weather predictions. The ordinary person i 3 content to pin. his faith' to the wisdom of the countryside, which talks in terms of red skies and mackerel clouds, or, more personally, in aching joints and throbbing corns. But these authorities, discerning the face of the skies, have to how' the head to modern methods and modern instruments, and at the .moment wo are threatened with disaster from these quarters. Somewhere or other in the Tasman Sea a disturbance named "Fowlds" is contemplating a descent upon our shores, and on its heels a roaring devastation called "Millar" purposes completing the havoc begun by its colleague. Mr Clement Wrnggo has probably tho very best intentions in christening his climatic disturbances after members of the Cabinet, but he lias not chosen n particularly happy way df expressing his appreciation of these estimable gentlemen. There are no more courteous members of tho Ministry than Mr Fowlds and Mr Millar, and just-why their names should be coupled with tho vagaries of tho blustering storm fiend it is difficult to imagine. But tho methods of tho prophet in this respect are not of much consequence. The public aro more anxious just now to ascertain where and when " Fowlds" and ''Millar" will begin their work of destruction than they are to discuss the philosophy of their naming. So far the season has been a most favourable one for the country, and even the jicw.imir.tic farmer is njoining at the prospect of the good seed time that portends tho abundant harvest. Tt would bo hard indeed if a mere scientist should conjure up now terrors to turn the complacent autumn into a winter of discontent. But fortunately tho weather prophet is a good deal like those seers who operate in other directions. He is blessed with a comfortable quality of fallibility. So long as Mr Wraggo's "Fowlds" and ''Millar" confine their attentions to the Tasman Soa we shall be content to make what shift we can with their local namesakes. To be forewarned is, of course, to bo forearmed, but if our threatened visitors partake of the qualities of their

godfathers we can view thoir approach with some measure of equanimity.