BAROMETER'S STORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22336, 6 February 1936, Page 13

BAROMETER'S STORY

LOW READINGS IN NORTH DOMINION RECORD CLAIMED RESIDENT REPORTS 27.91 IN. [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] KAITAIA, Wednesday A record of the barometer readings at widely separated points in the Mangonui County show the severity of the storm on Saturday night. The reading at' Cape Maria Van Diemen was 28.5 in., that at Kaitaia 28.00 in., while at Doubtless Bay on the east coast the phenomenally low reading of 27.91 in. was reported.

Mr. L. J. Matthews, who took the low record, said the barometer was approximately 30in. on Friday afternoon and it then began gradually to drop until at Saturday mid-dav 29in. was reached. From then on until 9 p.m. on Saturday the rate of fall was very rapid and the extremely low reading was recorded at the latter hour. Early on Sunday morning the barometer started slowly to rise again, until on Sunday evening it was showing just under 29in.

Mr. Matthews states that he has found his barometer particularly accurate and has no reason to suppose that the low reading of Saturday night was not correct, and that this must constitute a Dominion record. Mr Matthews was born at his present home and has lived there all the 69 years of his life except for some years away at school in his youth. He states that during all that period he has never seen such a tremendously high flood, or a wind of such hurricane force. The homestead where the records were taken is close to the sea and about 20ft. above sea level.

The barometer on which the reading was taken at Kaitaia has been proved an accurate instrument and is calibrated for the correct height above sea level. On Friday evening this barometer gave a reading of 29.25 in. and then it started to drop slowly until it reached 29in. on Saturday morning. A rapid drop then took place until at midnight the phenomenally low reading of 28.00 in. was registered. At 3 a.m. the glass started to rise again and on Sunday night the reading was 29.86 in. *

The lowest barometric reading previously recorded in New Zealand was 28.55 in. at Martindale, Southland, in July, 1871. Auckland's record low level is 28.73 in., registered in July, 1867, and again on Sunday. The lowest reading on record at Wellington is 28.586 m.

" SCORCHED " FOLIAGE WIND AND SALT DAMAGE EFFECT OF WEEK-END GALE The " scorching " of thousands of trees, shrubs and plants during the gale last week-end has not caused such serious damage in the city as appearances might indicate. Horticulturists stated yesterday that a certain number of frail plants would undoubtedly die, while the growth of others would be checked, but it was considered that the majority would recover. The position is more serious in the fruit-growing districts of Henderson and Huapai, where the " scorching " was particularly severe. The fruit buds get nourishment from the leaves, and as these have now withered up fears are held for next year's crop. Some growers consider this to be one of the worst results of the gale. The burnt appearance is partly the result of wind-burn and partly due to the effects of the salt carried by the gale. Little of this disfiguration was caused by the easterly wind on Saturday night, the strong south-westerly on Sunday being chiefly to blame. The withered brown and black foliage seems as if it has been subjected to a severe frost.

Practically all foliage exposed to the south-westerly was affected, even including that of plants generally immune to damage by salt. In the city, however, recovery has set in already in many cases, and it is thought that few signs of the " scorching " will be noticeable in a few weeks' time. Young growth 011 trees undoubtedly will be held back, and, as in the fruit districts, next season's budding on shrubs and trees may not be as prolific as usual. One of the most badly-affected plants from salt and wind-burn in the city was the tomato, a number of cases having been reported where crops of this fruit have been destroyed through these causes. MAIL DISTRIBUTION IMPROVED SERVICES AEROPLANES FLY NORTH Improved mail services are expected to-day, particularly in North Auckland, and it is anticipated that a train from Auckland will reach Whakapara. Motortrucks, service cars and aircraft were used to serve the North more adequately yesterday. Incoming mails from the South were comparatively little behind schedule. Letters were carried by service car yesterday to Kaitaia, from where a distribution was made. A Post and Telegraph Department motor-truck, with letters and second-class matter for the North, was sent from Auckland as far as Maungaturoto, where it was met by another truck from Whangarei, with northern mail collected there for Auckland. Loads were transferred from one truck to the other at Maungaturoto, and the vehicles returned to their ro j spective starting points. Two machines from the Hobsonville air base flew to Russell yesterday morning with local and overseas mail for H.M.S. Dunedin, as well as matter for Russell and Paihia. They carried between them about 6001b., including copies of the Herald for the warship and for residents of the town. A Fairey lIIF. seaplane was flown by FlightLieutenant S.' Wallingford, and made the journey each way in an hour and ten minutes. The second machine, the Cutty Sark flying-boat, with Flight-Lieutenant R. J. Cohen at the controls, took an hour and forty minutes for each journey. The two craft took off from the Waiteinata Harbour at 8.30 yesterday morning, and the first was back again shortly after four o'clock in the afternoon. Nine bags of mail for Auckland were brought back by air. ELECTRIC-POWER SUPPLY Although conditions in the electricsupply systems in Auckland have practically returned to normal, in some places power has not yet been restored. Grafton Road and The Drive, Epsom, were still unlighted last night.