COLDEST OCTOBER TO DATE

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1930, Page 7

COLDEST OCTOBER TO DATE

SEVERE FROST EXPERIENCED MONTH’S WEATHER REVIEWED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Dr. Kidson states that,,the past month has been for the country as a whole the coldest October experienced in New Zealand since the accurate recording of temperatures commenced. October is a month in which the pastures usually show rapid growth after ‘the semi-dor-mant winter period. This year the growth has been very poor in most districts. The adverse condition's as regards the growth of vegetation have been accentuated so far as most of the eastern districts are concerned by the lack of sufficient precipitation. In consequence stock generally is in a somewhat backward condition.

Frosts occurred on several days over large parts of the Dominion, and in some cases they were severe. A certain amount of damage .was caused to orchards and small crops, but generally it does not appear to have been severe. The precipitation was greater than the average on the west coast of the South Island, over most of Otago and scattered parts of the western districts of the North Island, especially around Auckland. Temperatures generally were lower than have been recorded hitherto in New Zealand.. At Napier, Hokitika and Dunedin one slightly colder October has been experienced, but at all. other stations this year’s was the coldest. It is noteworthy that the present spell of abnormally cold weather has lasted with only short breaks over most of the country since June, 1929.