TEMUKA RAINFALL BELOW AVERAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22469, 2 January 1943, Page 3

TEMUKA RAINFALL BELOW AVERAGE

Annual Total Of 20.33 Inches Statistics Compared In spite of a good finish to the year, the rainfall during 1942 was more than four Inches less than the average rainfall taken over the last 20 years. Rain fell on 84 days, giving- a total fall of 20.33 inches for the year. Last yeai' the j total rainfall was 23 inches and in 1940 it was 26.32 inches. On only three other occasions since 1922 has the average rainfall for the year been less than 21 inches, those years being 1924 with 19.14 inches, 1931 with 16.38 inches, and 1939 with 17.44 inches. October was the wettest month of the year, 3.44 inches falling on three days from October 22 to October 24 inclusive, out of a total of 3.85 for the month. May ran it a close second with 3.21 inches which were well spread over the month. The dryest month was June, with a rainfall of only 26 points. During the month of December, rain fell bn nine days as follows:—December 2, 36 points: 3. 137: 4. 39; 5, 14; 8,7; 9,7; 12, 6; 14, 27 and 20. 10, a total of 2.83 inches. The monthly totals for this year, compared with those for 1940 and 1941, are as under:—

Totals .. .. 20.33 23.00 26.32 The yearly totals since 1922, when the first continuous recordings were kept,

RECORD RAIL TRAFFIC The number of passengers travelling by rail during the holidays constitutes a record at the Temuka Railway Station, and, owing to a considerably depleted staff, railway officials have experienced an exceptionally busy time. During the Christmas week 1210 passenger tickets were issued at Temuka, an increase of 147 on the same week for the previous year. There has been an increase in the number of long distance journeys throughout the South Island, as well as in the number of passengers to Timaru. Last Monday over 100 tickets were tesMSd. Ttax&x'x wlaxss.. EUCHRE AND DANCE There was a large gathering at the euchre party and dance held in the Labour Hall by the Temuka Branch of the New Zealand Labour Party. Card prizes were won by Mesdames L. Fitzgerald 1. J. Rooney 2, Messrs F. Downes I, G. Fisher 2. Mystery prizes were won by Mrs T. King and Mr Priddle. A ‘‘Monte Carlo” waltz was won by Mrs Rooney and partner and Mr J. Hayes was the winner of a competition. There was a good attendance at the euchre party held in the Labour Hall by the Temuka Municipal Band. Prizes were won by Mrs Downes 1, Miss Howden 2, Messrs Prebbie and R. Fisher. Mystery prizes were won by Mrs F. Walker and Mr Rennie. Mrs Rennie was the winner of a competition. PERSONAL Nurse M. Lynch, of the staff of the Wellington Hospital, is spending her annual holidays with her parents, Mr and Mrs P. Lynch, Milford. Mr and Mrs N. Trerise, Christchurch, are spending a holiday with Mr and Mrs W. Niles. Mr J. Cook. Milford, has returned home after spending several weeks with his sister at Rangiora. Mr Fred King is spending his annual holidays with his father, Mr Ned King. Orakipaoa. Mrs Agnew is spending the holidays ■with her daughter, Mrs George Harris, Milford. Messrs Jack O'Neill and Leo O'Neill are spending their holidays with Mr and Mrs Tarrant, Milford. Miss Hazel and Mr Alan Horgan spent the Christmas holidays with thenparents, Mr and Mrs J. Horgan Milford. Miss Maisie Rodgers is spending a holiday with her parents, Mr and Mrs Frank Rodgers. Millord. Mr and Mrs J. Cook and family are spending a holiday with Mr and Mis J. Cook, Milford.

1942 1941 1940 January .. . .. 1.50 1 76 3 88 February .. .. .. 2.84 .35 2.32 March .. 1.04 0.65 1.06 April .. ,3S .45 3.05 May .. 3.21 1.36 3.68 June .. .26 1.08 .24 July .. 1.03 1.08 .54 .. 86 3 44 1 21 September .. . .99 1.77 5.36 October .. .. .. 3.85 1.37 1.09 November .. . .. 1.56 1.03 2.49 December .. .. .. 2.83 2.46 1.40

are as follows Year Rainfall Year Rainfall 1922 .. .. 20.35 1932 . .. 28.33 1923 .. .. 23.25 1933 . .. 24.79 1924 .. .. 19.14 1934 . .. 25.56 1925 .. .. 26.05 1935 . .. 22.91 1926 .. .. 24.81 1936 . .. 31.37 1927 .. .. 23.82 1937 . .. 22.81 1928 .. .. 24.76 1938 . .. 43.97 1929 .. .. 28.43 1939 . .. 17.44 1930 .. .. 26.10 1940 .. .. 26.32 1931 . .. 16.38 1941 .. .. 23.00 Tlie average rainfall over 20 years was 24.97 inches. a period of