WEATHER FORECASTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15004, 28 May 1912, Page 8

WEATHER FORECASTS.

—■ —* •• ,Vi : ■ ■ THE INCREASE IN STATIONS. , Tjib. decision of the Government to sai, considerably to the number of "' l " •" forecast stations has been partioakflfc welcomed by the fanning community, , *'» l> for a long time past have been urging **t : - such a step should be taken (says the NW.j,' Zealand Times). The value of :no forecasts sent out by the meteorological om» in Wellington has led to a demand for their wider distribution, especially a-; shearing, harvest, burning-off, and oi&er,important periods in the farming y»&? It was explained by the Government; ■ meteorologist (Mr. I). C. Bates) '.»•; a reporter, that tho change simply t3ii h ' wider distribution of the forecast* &[% ready issued daily. No increase of. ©* ; serving stations wOuld be made, /&?'"': very little extra expenditure wdup'||| required. At present the office scncS -Wm daily forecast to about 100 stations, W*jnow this number will bo increased to joss..;, over 200. The reports that contain «fl| data on which the calculations are'■ raw* are only obtained from a comparative 1 small number of places. These are ~.cwg. leeted and published about 10 a.m. ev«rs| day in the chief ports of the r»oimnMmj.j. while at noon a map is prepared on "»-.•; data -to hand * and a forecast is «"H through the telegraph office to about iw ■ places. But now this number \<»* «£., doubled. Most, of the new ■ Bta * , l%BSH receiving the forecast ■: are inland. »■" V < are fairly evenly distributed between "J , two islands, ; bat more .ire on the ? K ".||f| side than on the western. , ' . \'b ■',] The meteorolodst said that tlw f *"'>'.. sion had been particularly pressed mm | the farmers, rind for some time T'f J* J office had been making a careful »«**Ti\ of the piaoes suggested. The staWN' .would now be grouped into aiftnets. » district reports would be sent o u V°&S& ' tribution :!rom some centre conv the telegraph office* 'WmKi 1