WEATHER STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 14

WEATHER STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR.

Imperfect as our local records are, the Rev. Mr Bates has been able to show that our climatic advantages are of no mean order and compare more than favourably with thosemf Great Britain, Europe, and America. The sunshine records reported in the advance sheets of the Year Book from Lincoln College—Wellington, Gisborne, Nelson, and N#pier range from an average of 2059 hours during tne last six years to that of 2501 hours per annum; while those of Great Britain range from 1200 hours in the north to 1600 hours in the south. The figures quoted for Napier and Nelson exceed those of Italy, which are noted at 2400 hours. The range of the Italian climate, however,--is not indicated, while our top figures are taken. In the North of Italy the climate is temperate and frequently severe in winter ; in the central provinces it assumes a more genial and sunny character, while the heat of the southern extremity is almost of tropical intensity. Still, when it is also considered that Nelson and Napier enjoy an average rainfall of from 30in to 40in, these localities can, without doubt, claim one of the finest climates in the world. Such authentic statements as these should be circulated without delay all over Great Britain, so that we can secure a share of the emigrant stream flowing so rapidly from that country. We have very little conception yet of the range of crops that can be successfully grown in such a climate, and it will not attain its maximum efficiency till useless forests- are cut down, huge marshes drained, and most of it judiciously cultivated. If the most was made of the heat available, thousands of -acres of mulberries might be grown to rear silkworms, and the export tables increased by millions in that way, wine a® good as the Lacruna Christi supplied to visitors on Yesuviufi, cotton, olives, sugar cane, and rice. The

importance of heat as a stimulus to vegetation canot be overestimated; but the average heat of the year is not of so much importance to the growth of plants a§ its duration at the proper time. In order to produce the most delicate classes of fruit and grain, the heat must continue at a certain degree during the ripening season. This gives the uniform climate of the Continent some advantage over our most variable seasons. On the other hand-, there is a limit to all good things, and the wealthy residents of that magnificent city Rome never think of living there during the hot season, but are glad to migrate to the seaside and the mountains. The rainfall for 1912 was less than normal in the far north, hut above the average in southern districts, while this year it ranged from 27.49 in (on 146 days)—the lowest cpioted—to 116.6 (on 177 days. How the mouths of Australian flockowners would water when they read these figures. Abundance of rain means abundance of vegetation, and, combined with lots of sunshine, high class vegetation, abundance of fat stock, and wealth which is not altogether monopolised by labour. Taieri farmers have learned during last week that it is not so much the quantity of rain which is material as the fact that is has general and equable distribution through several days and months of the year. General showers in the spring as well as fair supplies in autumn are worth their weight in gold It is with much satisfaction, therefore, that we find the smallest recorded number of days on which rain fell to be 125 during the year, and they ranged from tliat number to 206 days—i.e., an average of two out of three ill a week, which is rather too many. An excess of rain is prejudicial in any season, but particularly so in autumn, when the grain may he lodged or prevented from being harvested in good form. Wellington maintains its reputation in regard to wind velocities, but the Wellington zephyrs pass over a large expanse of water and are usually warmer in winter than the biting winds which sometimes come off the snow in the south. The average velocity over the Dominion ranges from 135 miles per day to 282 miles per day. and even the maximum record of 50 miles an hour is not so fast as some of the motor cars travel, and only a gentle breeze compared to the piercing tramontana or mountain winds of Italy, or the deadly sirocco which blights all native plants in its course. The extreme readings of any department during the year have not been phenomenal. It is just as well to place on record the fact that tliere are many drier places which might be named than Galloway in Central Otago, with its 14.52 in of rainfall, if the truth were known, hut few residents would like to have as much as 175 in during the year. The ancient rheumatic visitors to Hanmer would simply revel in Q7deg of heat, while the Lincoln lads do not regard a temperature of 92.8dcg during the first term with any serious apprehension. But enough has been said to exemplify the great value of such records, and Mr Bates is to he congratulated in presenting his statistics in such a strikingly interesting manner.