FAIRLIE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20926, 4 January 1938, Page 3

FAIRLIE

RAINFALL FOR YEAR WELL BELOW AVERAGE A place amongst the driest years experienced in the Fairlie district must be taken by 1937. as. according to records kept by Mr A. H. Gillingham at "Lambrook.” the total rainfall was 21.31 inches, a figure more than three inches below the average, and nearly nine inches below that of last year. Last month was the wettest, with 5.57 inches, and January. 3.48 inches, took second place. In the following table, the monthly rainfall over the last four years is shown:—

Totals .. 28.54 22.38 30.03 21.31 Analysing the records, which go back to 1894. the heaviest, rainfall ever recorded in one month was in March. 1902. the figure being 12.21in5. May. 1919. has the distinction of being the driest month with seven points, and in 1929, two months. February and October. had nine points. The total in 1902. which had the record fall for a month, was 35.74in5. Albury Figures From records kept by Mr F. J. Davison at Albury. the total for the year was 18.82 inches, and was four inches

below the average of 22.81 for the years 1907-1936. That there is a difference between the climale at Albury and Fairlie is shown by the fact that 30 inches recorded in 1928 wa.s the heaviest annual rainfall in the former district, while al "Lambrook,” Fairlie. that figure was exceeded in 1936 with 30.03 inches. Albury’s wettest month was July. 1925, when 9 inches of rain was recorded, and the driest month February, 1929, when no rain was recorded. At that time, six weeks passed without rain. The driest year was 1931 with 12.57 inches. The corresponding Fairlie totals are placed at the bottom of the following Albury table for comparison:

1934 ins. 1935 1936 ins. 1937 ins. January 4.59 2.67 1.17 3.48 February 2.27 1.91 5.13 2.80 March .... 2.21 1.78 5.32 1.26 April .. .. 2.03 1.85 1.43 1.30 May .. .. 4.29 1.86 .28 1.97 June .. .. 2.11 3.78 2.05 .80 July .. .. 1.08 .68 2.63 .69 August . . 1.87 .17 1.23 .51 September .. 3.26 .35 1.34 1.50 October 3.55 2.26 1.81 .34 November 1.38 3.50 4.89 1.09 December .. .89 1.0 i 2.75 5.57

1934 ins. 1935 ins. 1936 ins. 1937 ins. January 3.80 2.50 .80 3.65 February 2.35 1.70 5.45 2.70 March .. .. 1.20 2.75 4.00 .75 April .. .. 1.30 1.75 .60 .35 May .. .. 1.70 1.15 .10 2.05 June .. .. .50 2.50 1.35 1.10 July .. .. .75 .60 2.25 .40 August .. .. .35 .15 .85 .10 September .. 3.30 .10 .80 2.20 October 4.00 2.45 .85 .30 November .. 1.60 3.20 5.80 .60 December .. 1.10 1.35 2.30 4.65 — — — — Totals .... 23.95 20.05 25.15 18.82 — - — — Fairlie totals 28.54 22.38 30.03 21.31