VERY HOT DAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24501, 6 February 1943, Page 6

VERY HOT DAYS

83 DEGREES IN CITY OPPRESSIVE CONDITIONS Auckland has experienced a -week of liot, oppressive days, during which high percentages of humidity added to the discomfort caused by the temperature, which reached its highest yesterday with a maximum reading of 83 degrees. The maximum temperature last Friday and during the week-end was 76 degrees, on Monday 77 degrees, Tuesday 79 degrees, Wednesday 74 degrees, and Thursday 81 degrees. Workers found the heat particularly trying as did children cooped up in schoolrooms for the first week after their holidays. Suitable tides in the mornings a'nd evenings gave city workers a respite from the heat at near by beaches. Maximum humidity readings since last Saturday range from 87_ per cent to 96 per cent, the highest readings being at six o'clock on Thursday and yesterday mornings. Humidity percentages are highest usually in the mornings, decrease as tho sun grows stronger and increase through the evenings. From readings taken at intervals of three hours throughout the day February has been found to have a mean average humidity percentage of 72. With the annual mean average at 75 per cent Auckland is regarded as having a very humid climate.

The last rainfall of any consequence in Auckland was on January 25 when in the 24 hours ended at midnight, ,91in. was recorded on tho Herald gauge. With slight rain on only one day this month .03in. was recorded.

THE FIRE MENACE GRASS IN THE SUBURBS The hazard of fire in the parched grasslands and the tinder-like undergrowth of the hush increases as the succession of hot, dry days lengthens. There were three grass fires in the suburbs of Auckland yesterday, hut all were extinguished quickly and no serious damage was done. Special precautions to guard against serious fires ai'e taken by the State Forest Service. The lighting of fires left unguarded is fraught with particular danger at present and another possible source of trouble is hot clinker_ from gas-driven motor vehicles. It is an offence to leave live coals on tho roadside. RECORD AT WHANGAREI NO CRICKET TO BE PLAYED (0.C.) WHANGAREI, Friday After a week of hot days, a record temperature of 96 degrees was recorded at two o'clock this afternoon. As an outcome of the restricted use of water which is limited to household purposes no cricket will be played in Whangarei to-morrow. The unwatered wickets, both at Kensington Park and tho high school ground, are dried and cracked. A cessation of play for this reason has never previously been necessary in Whangarei. COOLER IN SOUTH FIXE, CLEAR WEATHER In spite of strong winds temperatures have been high in Wellington this week and fairly heavy rain on Thursday night was the first fall for about a fortnight. Until yesterday, when conditions were muggy and a mist covered parts of the harbour and the hills, the weather has been fine and clear, with strong winds. Lawns and pastures are burned, following the dry weather. The maximum temperature yesterday was 75 degrees. Christchurch weather has been cool and balmy with a few light showers of warm rain.

DEMAND FOR WATER RECORD CONSUMPTION WARNING TO GARDENERS "The consumption of water is now more than 19,000.000 gallons a day, a record for Auckland, and about 5.000.000 gallons a day are being used for private gardens," stated the chairman of the City Council's Works Committee, Mr. A. S. Bailey, yesterday. "If garden-owners do not reduce their demand over the coming week-end, the council will have to prohibit the use of hoses and sprinklers completely and immediately."

The waterworks engineer, Mr. A. D. Mead, said the consumption was now greater than the capacity of the mains from the Waitakere Ranges, and reserves in the service reservoirs were being drawn upon. This could not continue for long. Already there was trouble with low pressure in the higher parts of Tamaki and Orakei in the evenings.

Consumption had been very heavy for a fortnight after Christmas, Mr. Mead stated, but with cooler weather and light showers it diminished to less than 17,000,000 gallons a day. However, last Monday it made a jump and had continued "at a higher level than the system could sustain for more than a limited period. He hoped that consumers would reduce their demands so that it would not be necessary to impose restrictions.

CENSORSHIP BREACH REFERENCES IN LETTER (0.C.) HAMILTON, Friday A breach of the censorship regulations was admitted by Katherine Speedy (Mr. Do La Mare), beforo Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., at Hamilton today.

Counsel said that defendant had written to a friend making _ vague reference to a ship about which the enemy was familiar. The magistrate said it was true the information contained in the letter was vague, but clever intelligence officers could piece valuable information together from a series of letters containing vague references to a ship. By such means British air intelligence officers were able to locate a new factory in Germany and they caused it to be bombed. It was most important that no information likely to be of value to the enemy should bo included in letters. Defendant was fined £2. STRAWBERRY CROPS PROLONGED SEASON The vagaries which havo marked strawberry cropping this season arc still being found in the harvesting of fruit at this late stage. It is unusual to have supplies of good quality berries in February, stated an authority in tho industry yesterday.

Fewer plants had been set out for cropping this season, owing to wartime demands on manpower. However, production had boon very fair and almost on a par with last season. The higher prices, which at Christmas especially reached unprecedented levels, had affected the popular demand, and generally speaking strawberries had been a luxury. The long dry spoil following Christmas had checked the plants, and supplies liad boon lighter for some weeks afterwards. The subsequent rains had given the plants a second lease of life which accounted for tho season continuing until this late stage. Many growers expected strawberries to finish shortly, but others saw prospects of marketing odd lots for some little timo. The season is said to have been a satisfactory one for growers. While they have had their difficulties in regard to labour and additional costs, the excellent prices are expected .to ensure ifchera,;, •fe. profitable t-ofcura. I