OPHIR NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20786, 3 August 1929, Page 22

OPHIR NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) OPHIR, August 1. EARTHQUAKE SHOCK. An earth tremor was experienced here about 1.43 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30. It was of only two or three seconds’ duration, and was accompanied by a rumbling sound. The movement was merely a shake, without any oscillation, but was quite sufficient to awaken light sleepers iii a place where such occurrences are very rare. No damage was done. THE WEATHER. The following is the report of the local meteorological station for the month of July, 1929; Average reading of barometer at 9 a.m., 29.74 m; highest (July 4), 30.1Tiu; lowest (July 13), 29.24 iii; extreme range, .93in. Average shade temperature at 9 a.m., 32.2 deg; highest (July 17), 42.1 deg; lowest (July 5), 23.1 deg. (Average for June, 35.8dcg; for July, 1028, 34.1 deg.) Shade temperature—Average maximum, 42.6 deg ■ (June, 47.8 deg; July, 1928, 46.0 de g); average minimum' 20.9ddg . (June, 29.9 deg; July, 1928, 27.7 deg); approximate mean temperature, 34.7 deg (June, 38.8 deg; July, 1928, 36.8 deg). The highest maximum was 52.8 deg, on July 13; the lowest minimum, IS.Odeg, on July 5; the extreme range, 34.8 deg. (The corresponding records for July, 1928, were:—-Maximum, sG.9deg; minimum, IS.Sdeg: raime 38.6 deg.) ‘ Average ‘dry bulb and wet bulb—9 a.m., dry 32.2 deg, wet 32.0 deg; 2 p.m., dry 41,7 deg, Wet 39.3 deg. Mean relative humidity—9 a.m., 98 per cent.; 2 p.m,, 79 per cent, of saturation.

Minimum grass temperature—average, 22.Cdeg (June,, 25.4 deg; July, 1928, 22.9 deg); highest (17th), -36.6 deg; .lowest (3rd), 12.6 deg. The temperature fell to 32.0 deg and lower on 30 mornings (June, 24 mornings; July, 1928, 31 mornings) - . The lowest record in July, 1928, was 12;3deg; and in July, 1927, 3.Bdeg. Maximum -solar radiation—average, 65.7 deg; highest (July 26), 91.3 deg; lowest (July 4), 34.6 deg. Average clearness of sky—7 a.m., 29 per cent.; 9 a.m., 29 per cent.; 7 p.m., 41 per cent.; 10 p.m., 41 per cent. Wind, recorded at 9 a.m.—Calm, 20 days; N., 1 day; N.E., 1 day; E.,1 day; S.E., 1 day; S., 4-day; S.W., * day. No wind recorded above force I—2 to S miles per. hour.

Rainfall—July 6/10 points; Tth, 9 points f 9th, 1 point; 12th, 1 point; 14th, 5. points; 15th, 14 points; 16th, 10 points; 17th, 12 points; 21st,'1 point; 25th, 11 points; 28th, 34 points, 29th, 2 points;—total, 110. points on 12 days. Preceding five years’,'average for July, 68 points on 7 days. Other phenomena—Snow, 29th and 31st, ,Bin in all; snow lying, 1 day (29th); fog, 2 days (Bth, 19th); hoar frost, 16 days; earthquake, 1 day (30th, 1.45 a.m.). " The month was unusually moist, cloudy, and calm. The Dunstan Range appears to bo covered with snow more heavily than for several years past. The Weather is now settled, with a very keen frost to-night. . ELECTRICAL EXTENSION. , A gang of electricians engaged by Mr Byrne, of Cromwell, under contract to the Central Otago Power Board, is now engaged in. the township wiring the premises in accordance with the applications made for lighting and heating. It is expected that in about two months this district -will have the use of the power.