A HINT OF SPRING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20630, 31 July 1930, Page 12

A HINT OF SPRING.

WARM DAY IN AUCKLAND. HEAVY FROST IN MORNING. SNOW ON RAILWAY CARRIAGES. A dear day of bright sunshine in Auckland yesterday gave a hint of the early approach of spring. There was more strength in the sun than there has been on any fino day for several weeks. The bright day was heralded by a heavy frost, the result of an exceedingly cold night. The minimum temperature in the shade since midnight on Tuesday evening was 33deg., compared with a minimum temperature for the 24 hours prior to that of 39dog. At riiric o'clock yesterday morning the air temperature was 44dcg., tho same as at nine o'clock on Tuesday morning. Tho lowest temperature on the grass for the 24 hours prior to nino o'clock yesterday morning was 34deg. The woather experienced yesterday contrasts strangely with that of the two previous days. Monday was bitterly cold, while heavy rain-showers fell until tho afternoon Conditions then improved anil no rain has fallen sitice then. Tuesday broke fine and clear, but. cold winds counteracted the warmth of the sun. By yesterday tho wind had dropped and a warm sun quickly thawed tho frost which covered the ground. Tho frost was one of tho heaviest recorded and a white inantlo covered large areas in tho city and suburbs. As tho result of a heavy fall in tho King Country, snow was brought to the Auckland railway station yesterday morning on tho undor-carriages of tho first express. Tho incident was most unusual. Passengers on tho limited express stated that snow had ceased falling in tho "King Country and National Park, but tho whole countryside was heavily covered.

FROSTS IN COUNTRY. POTATO CROPS AFFECTED. MORNINGS UNUSUALLY COLD. Heavy frosts have boon experienced throughout the province in the t few nights and the early mornings have been unusually cold. The frost at Pukekohe yesterday niornine was the heaviest experienced in tho district for a number of years. Early potato crops that are above ground have suffered to some extent. The most severe frost recorded in Hatniltoi: this year was experienced yesterday morning, when 14.8-lecr. were rogisteied. At Cambridge 13.1deg. of frost wore recorded, which was ihe most severe this winter. At Morrinsville the countryside was under a mantle of white until S a.m. yesterday, and many water tups were f-ozen. Difficulty was experienced by motorists in starting the engines of their ears. The frost registered was 12dcg,