STORMS AND CALMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24540, 24 March 1943, Page 4

STORMS AND CALMS

SOLOMONS WEATHER WET SEASON SOON ENDS "The so-called hurricane season in the Solomons," writes Mr. H. T. Fairbrother, a New Zeaiander who spent 27 years in the islands, "extends from December to the end of March as r rule, although I have known the final 'blow,' with its torrential rain, not to come until May. These winds come from the north-west. Monsoon is a better term than hurricane. The wind is rather a trade wind than a series of hurricanes. "The south-east or 'dry' season is usually reckoned to last from the end of March until December, the month preceding the change-over often being a period of calms with an inter-mixture of north-easterly squalls. The word 'dry' is a comparative term and can best be described by the over-worked statements that 'in the Solomons it rains for nine months of the year and then the rainy season begins.' Boisterous Beginning "From Christmas to New Year the boisterous beginning of the north-west season is watched for, especially by seagoing folk. It was usual for the Administrator to forbid Government officials to leave the island of Tulagi for their brief holiday for fear they might become weather-bound for a week or 10 days before they could get back from the near by islands of Guadalcanal- and Savo. I have known a season when 16 local vessels, the largest being about 20 tons, were wrecked in an especially bad Christmas blow. "After the initial blow the season is one of storms and calms, but heavy seas precede the storms for days and take as long to subside after the blow is over. It is to bo noted, however, that the Solomons are not in the hurricane belt, although the southern parts of San Cristoval, Santa Cruz and other j islands get something approaching real hurricane conditions. "A traveller from the Solomons to Vila in the New Hebrides notices with amusement that the buildings have heavy rocks on their roofs and are chained down. But the New Hebrides are definitely in the hurricane belt. Further south, in Now Caledonia, the stone and brick buildings of Noumea, [solidly built in European style, indicate that the hurricane danger exists, but that earthquakes are not feared." Nature of Deluges Mr. Fairbrother, in mentioning the rainfall in the season which normally will end at the end of this month, said that figures were not known with certainty seeing that a rain gauge might be filled two or three times over in a night. It was not. the custom to go out three times in the course of a deluge to deal with the rain gauge. After March malaria would not be so prevalent. Mud would not be so great a military difficulty. In Cuadalcanar he knew roads constructed by a foldmining company which remained in airly good order for the transport which had accumulated during the wet season. Haze Through Volcanic Dust After March, haze usually affected visibility. It was created by the dust from the Tinakula Island volcano lying between San Cristoval and Santa Cruz. "Five thousand feet up in the mountains of Guadalcanal-," lie said, "I have been unable to see the _ island of Milaita, 40 miles away, owing to this haze and sometimes the Florida Islands, a little over 20 miles distant, have hardly been visible. Tinakula usually has so bright a glow that it is used by the island navigators as a lighthouse." Some unusual flooding characteristics of the rivers were mentioned, although the difficulties they create for military operations apply only where the streams are large, as on Guadalcanal-. During the north-west season, in perfectly fine weather, a fresh comes down daily about 2 p.m. owing to heavy rain in the distant hills. First leaves, debris and bubbles appear. Then comes a .solid wall of water three or four feet high and almost perpendicular. Goldmining sluices have to be removed and prospectors then make camp for the day. When the stream is of any size a real difficulty to troops is created until the subsidence round about 8 p.m. WATER FROM WAIKATO SUPPORT FOR SCHEME "I have every reason to believe that we arc nearly down to the sludge level in the dams and reservoirs and the shortage of water will come to the consuming public like a clap of thunder." said Mr. -I. J. Mulvihill at a meeting; of the Mount Eden Borough Council last night. Mr. Mulvihill was speaking in support of a resolution to found an Auckland-Waikato Water Board for the establishment of fresh sources of supply from the Waikato River to the Auckland Metropolitan area and outlying districts. The most important step, lie said, was to appoint delegates from each local body and then to gain the necessary legislation which would give them power to act. It was pointed out that the matter had twice been brought up before the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Association and had been rejected. Members considered that the Auckland City Council was taking an extremely shortsighted view in not supporting the pc heme f The resolution, which was passed'by the council unanimously, was that the council forthwith convene a meeting of delegates from all local bodies within service distance of a proposed Waikato River water supply, able and willing to draw supply from such source, with a view to founding an Auckland-Wai-kato Water Board or, in the alternative, an Auckland Metropolitan Water Board. WEDDING PARTY TRAGEDY SYDNEY, March 23 | A lew hours alter her wedding. Mrs. Maymond John Buclian, aged 24. ol South Fremantle. was injured in a collision between the bridal car and a taxi. She died in Fremantle Hospital three days later, states a message from Perth With her husband, who is a member of the Royal Australian Air Force, and Bombardier J. E Gillham and his wife, of Bieton. Mrs. Buclian was driving away from the reception when the collision occurred. Mrs. Gillham was killed outright and both men were injured.