CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20583, 5 December 1928, Page 13

CENTRAL OTAGO.

OPHIR NOTES. (From Ode Own Correspondent.) OPHIR, December 3.' It is many years since this part of the Manuherikia Valley received the copious rainfall of over 3i inches in one month, from October 12 to November 11, which fellthis season. In consequence, thouuirrigated lands in this .. locality rarely show at the beginning of December such a; growth of grass as is to be seen just -now. No .other ’■ proof ,is necessary regarding the fertility of the soil, even On the ordinarily barren hillsides, given a good supply of water. The favourableness of the season to vegetation is very evident in the; immediate vicinity of Ophir, where some hundreds of acres of thyme are spread over the foothills. This year the plants grew to an urtusual size, and the flowers have been unusually abundant, fragrant, and varied in,colour. LAWN TENNIS. “For the third consecutive Saturday, the Ophir Lawn Tennis Club"-has .won its matches with other clubs in the Maniototo sub-association, playing B Grade, viz.:— November 17, Lauder B at Lauder; November 24, at Matakanui B at Ophir; December 1, Becks B at Ophir. The match with' Matakanui B was very evenly contested, the win being nine sets to seven and .78 games to 70; In the mixed doubles Ophir won three sets with 6—5, 6 —2, G—2, losing a set with 5—6; both men’s doubles were lost with 3—6 and 4—6; one ladies’ doubles was won with 6—3, the other lost with 4—6; three of the men’s singles ■ were won . with 6-r-5, 6-“5,, 6—o, the other set lost with I—rC; honours were even in the ladies’ singles, Matakanui winning two with 6—2 and 6—5, Ophir the other two with 6 —5 arid 6—l. Tne match with Becks B was rather unequal, the visitors winning only two sets, viz., one mixed doubles with 6 —S, and'one ladies’ singles with, a similar score. Ophir won by 14 sets to 2 and 94 gairies to 50. Ophir has not yet produced ari A Grade team. THE WEATHER. . SUMMARY FOR NOVEMBER.

The report of the local Meteorological Station for last riionth'.is as follows; Average reading of baroirieter at 9 a.m.’ (standard' time), :29.88in; highest (18th), 30,29 m;- lowest (sth), 29,30 in; ■ extreme range, .99in.

Average shade temperature at 0 a.im, 56.7 degrees; highest (19th), 70.0 degrees; lowest, (Ist), 46.3 degrees (average for November, 1927, 53.9 degrees).: Dry-bulb shade temperature.—Average maximum, 66.4 degrees (November, 1927, 63.6 degrees); average minimum, 41.4 degrees (November, 1927, 40.5 degrees); approximate mean, 53.0 degrees (November, 1927, 62.0 degrees). The, extreme maximum was 79.8 degrees on November 18; the extreme minimum 30. degrees on November 13. The corresponding records in 1d27 were; Maximum, 78.2 degrees; minimum, 29.5 degrees. , ' Average dry-bulb : and wet-bulb. —9 a.m., dry 56.7 degrees, wet 50.1 degrees; 3 p.m„ dry 64.1 degrees, wet 53.9 degrees. Mean relative humidity: 9 a.m., 60.0 per cent.; 3 p.m., 47 per cent; of saturation. ' ‘ Minimum grass temperature.—Average, 38;5 degrees (Novemberl927, ,33;91 degrees). Highest, 48.'5 degres:mi'-Novem-ber 27; lowest, ,20.2 degrees on November 1. The temperature fell To .32.0 degrees and lower on 14 mornings (November, 1 1927, 12 mornings). Maximum solar radiation.—Average, 94.2 degrees; highest,' 121.6 degrees on November 18; lowest, 54.8 degrees on November 27.

AVerage clearness of sky.—7 a.m., 65 per cent.; 9 aonj 59 per cent.; 7 p.m., 51 per cent. ■

Wind, recorded at 9 a.m.—Calm, 11 days; N.; one day; N.E., fivedays;, E., two days; S.W:, three days; W., one day; N.W., seven days. . ’ . ■

Rainfall.—November 4. 9 points; 7th, 38 points; 9th, 2 points; 10th, 8 points; Ifth, 24 points; 26th, 68 points; 27th, 7 points; total, 156 points on seven days. Average in November for four preceding years, 167 points on 9.5 days. Rainfall from January 1 to November 30, 15.14 inches on 87 days.

Hard frost' occurred- on four morning's. There were no fogs. Dew occurred brf one morning (November 20).General remarks.—The splendid growth of October continued during , the former part of the month, but was somewhat checked by a dry spell of J 4 days, but was relieved again by the good rainfall towards the close of the month,

The longest and most expensive transatlantic telephone call yet made'since the sCrvite was inaugurated took place when an American staying at the Savoy Hotel in; London, rang up a-business associate ini New York and spoke for ,05- minutes. The‘'conversation coat £285.