THE HOTTEST DAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 41, 17 January 1938, Page 6

THE HOTTEST DAY

A RECORD TEMPERATURE. MERCURY TOUCHES 91. With the temperature reaching 91 degrees in the shade, Palmerston North yesterday experienced its hottest day for many years. The oppressive heat drove almost everybody out of doors, and hundreds spent the day at the beaches, while every, pool along the banks of the Manawatu River was well occupied by bathers. For some weeks the exceptionally hot conditions which have made this summer the warmest for some years have ruled, and it has been very exhausting to people in a weak physical condition. Not once during last week was the maximum temperature below 80 degrees in the shade. The heat was felt intensely by the men working in the Terrace End pit, where the temperature was considerably higher than in other places. The maximum temperature on Saturday was 87 degrees. Stock and poultry felt the heat severely yesterday, when hens in one fowl-house were observed to be panting with their wings outstretched Additional shade was provided and the ground watered, but one of the fowls died. MASTERTON’S HIGH FIGURES. There was a temperature of 94.5 degrees at Masterton yesterday. It is reported from Martinborough that flaxcutters were forced to abandon work in a swamp when 110 degrees of heat were registered.