DRY WEATHER RECORD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 12

DRY WEATHER RECORD.

JANUARY ALMOST RAINLESS if ALL OF FIFTH OF AN INCH. JEXCESSIVE BRIGHT SUNSHINE. ' EFFECT OF THE HEAT. With a rainfall of only one-fifth of an inch, last month was the driest January experienced in Auckland. The maximum fall in any 24 hours occurred on January 2, when there was .13in. of rain. Averaging 2.77 in. since 1884, the January rainfall in Auckland siace then has only been less than an inch on six previous occasions, tho last being in 1908. The month's rainfall that year was ,45in. The wettest January was in 1907, when the rainfall amounted to 7.45 in. Last month's low record has only teen eclipsed on four previous occasions by the figures for any month. In February, 1890, the fall was .07in. ; in February," 1885, .17in.; in December, 1897, .13in.; while in February, 1909, there was no rain. In December, 1894, the recorded fall of »2in. equalled last month's figure. The parching effect of the low rainfall last month was intensified by an exceptionally large amount of bright sunshine and accompanying high temperatures. Bright sunshine totalled 208 hours 15 minutes, according to observations made by the Government observer in Albert Park. Tho maximum was on January 24, when '1 hours 55 minutes were recorded. There was only ono day on jwliich ther-3 was no sunshine. The mean temperature in the shade for the month was 65.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Ohe extreme maximum was recorded on January 29 and 30, when the reading was 77 degrees. Tho minimum temperature >vas 52 degrees, recorded on January 4. The barometer was exceptionally steady, with a mean reading of 30.162. Hie maximum height oi ' 30.315 in. was recorded on January <SO and tno minimum Oi 30.02 on January t. The following table shows the January rainfall,-compared with the tigurus for preceding years: — 1928. 1927. 1926. 1925. 192*. January . . .2 1.-16 4.04 2.12 3.85 DELIVERY OF WATER. MOUNT WELLINGTON AREA. BOARD FIXES CHARGES'. f In view of the high cost of delivering jwate/ by lorry to the residents of the Mount Wellington district, the Mount [Wellington Road Board decided last evening to make a charge of Is 3a for 25 gallons for all supplies delivered in future. The board's lorry has been engaged continuously since Saturday in supplying the needs of householders whose tiiiks have inn dry. • [UNLUCKY DAIRY FARMER. CRASS DESTROYED BY FIRE. 1 OVER 100 ACRES SWEPT. [BY TELECtfIAFH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] "WHANGAIiSI. Tuesday. Over 100 acres of pasture on the property of Mr. R. McCarroll, of Mareretu, were burned through a spark starting a fire in the grass. Mr. McCarroll is a heavy loser and has been forced to turn his cattle out into the bush. THE HAUBAKI PLAINS. SETTLERS CART WATER. f ROAD SURFACES SUFFER. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT-] KG ATE A, Tuesday. Many settlers on portions of the Hauraki Plains not included in a recentlyinstalled water supply scheme at W&ita.karuru have exhausted ail available water supplies and are now obliged to cart water from the nearest available factories and streams. The Waitakaruru supply scheme has 'been furnished at a most portune time for demonstrating its value, ,a,s without it the output of dairy herds could not possibly have been maintained <r.t its present level. The dry spell is also .proving costly to the Hauraki Plains County Council in the maintenance of roads. Surfaces are beginning to break and rain is wanted to aid the consolidation of loose metal. FALSE HOPES RAISED. ONLY SHOWERS FALL. i [BY • TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. J HAMILTON. Tuesday, The hopes that heavy rain would fall throughout last night were not. fulfilled, for. after several heavy showers had fallen early in the evening, the downpour ceased. The rainfall recorded iu Hamilton for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. to-day was .14in., making a total of .15in. for the month. Heavy rain had pot previously fallen in Hamilton since October, and hist evening's downpour was quite inadequate to do any lasting good in relieving the abnormally dry conditions which have been experienced in tho WaikatO during the last two months. "DAIRY FACTORY STAFFS. A REDUCTION NECESSARY. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. I THAMES, Tuesday. Butler-fat production continues to fall everywhere, and several Thames Valley factories have been forced to 'dispense with employees whom the decreasing output has left idle. The position is now definitely serious for a large number of dairying men and it is impossible to estimate tho damage that will be occasioned if heavy rain holds off much longer. CONDITIONS IN WELLINGTON DRIEST FOR 41 YEARS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —VRBS3 ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tuesdav. The.weather in Wellington during Jannary was exceptional in several respects. There was an almost entire absence of rain, the total fail for tho month being less than one-fifth of an inch, marking it as the driest January for 41 years. Wellington belied its reputation as a •windy city last month, a remarkable feature of the meteorological records being the even atmospheric pressure, due to more or less constant anti-cyclonic conditions and the many days of calms or light airs. Strong northerly or westerly winds were conspicuous only by their absence. The bright sunshine recorded diiring the month was far above tho average.