UNUSUALLY DRY YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1933, Page 10

UNUSUALLY DRY YEAR

SOUTH TARANAKI RAINFALL. DECEMBER A . DRY MONTH. Last year was unusually dry in South Taranaki and considerably less than the average precipitation of-rain was recorded. December was a dry month. The rainfall for the year amounted to 38.78 inches, 4.6 inches less than in 1931 and 1.58 inches less than the average over the last ten years; The dryest year on record was 1930, When 33.84 inches fell and the wettest 1929 with 47.85 inches. Rain fell last month on nine days to a total amount of 1.86 inches. In December, 1931, there were also nine rainy days but the total fall in that case was 3.3 inches. Had there been the 1931 December fall last month the year’s figure would have been near the average.

NEW YEAR AT TE KIRI.

SUCCESSFUL SCOTTISH NIGHT.

The Te Kiri Scottish Society celebrated the passing of the old year and the ushering in of the new in their usual manner by the holding of a dance. This took place on Friday night owing to New Year’s Eve falling on Saturday. There was a crowded and enthusiastic attendance.

The Auroa Pipe Band was present under the charge of Drum-Major V’. Bell and played selections during the evening. “ Chieftain Don Holmes wa§ also present and at midnight he requested all to join in singing “Auld Lang Syne" as a farewell to the departing year. ■ . . Dancing was carried on under the direction of Mr. C. Maindonald, M.C., and Jack Hooker’s orchestra played the dance music. Mr. Stewart Gordon, the blind musician, played solos and extras, these being warmly applauded.- Extras were also played by Mis M. Lilley and Piper Lines. Mr. Donald Ross senr. gave an interesting exhibition dance, a Highland Fling, his son playing the pipe music. Mr. Ross was at one time a prominent instructor in Highland dancing. He was enthusiastically applauded on his exhibition. Although dancing was undoubtedly a tiring exercise under the warm conditions it was 3 a.m. before proceedings were closed. PERSONAL. Messrs. J. C... Barclay, C. Evetts and C. Davis left on Saturday for. a fortnight’s fishing in the central portion of the North Island. : ■ ' , ‘ ) GENERAL ITEMS. An unusual theft occurred at Hawera during the week-end. A well-known golfer on his -return from the tournament yesterday noticed that, the wooden crossing over the water-channel- in front of his gate had been removed. The road to Patea yesterday morning carried many vehicles of various descriptidhs conveying boats to the regatta there. There were motor-lorries, motorears, including one baby with a baby model boat almost - obscuring it, and a horse-drawn vehicle giving a realistic impersonation of a snail, large blue shell and small white horse appearing underneath in front. . . The first of the season’s excursion trains to New Plymouth was run from Hawera on Sunday. It carried 141 passengers from Hawera and by the time it had arrived at the destination there were 470 aboard. These totals are well up to last year’s figures and give promise of many successful picnics if the week-end weather is favourable. The week-end in Hawera and district was unusually hot. The shade temperature at* mid-day was nearly 80 degrees F. and in the sun it was over 100 degrees.

Ah entire absence of motoring accidents over the Christmas and New Year holidays is the record of the Hawera district. No claims have been made on the assurance fund of the North Island Motor Union. In view of the fact that motor speeds are, according to the Hawera borough traffic inspector, increasing every year, this is a record which is agreeably surprising.

Motor campers made good use of the facilities, provided for them at King Edward Park, Hawera, during the weekend. All the bays between the ake ake hedges were filled and several parties camped under the pine trees near the road.