REV. BATES NOT CHEERFUL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17571, 15 May 1919, Page 5

REV. BATES NOT CHEERFUL

NO IMMEDIATE PROSPECT OF

DROUGHT BREAKING

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, May 14. In an interview, the Rev. Bates (Government Meteorologist) made interesting reference to the present drought. Eta said there was no immediate prospect of the drought breaking up, but there were several possibilities which would have to be watched during the week, for at the end of these anti-cyc-lonea storms were.prevalent. The rainfall had been .deficient in Wellington for the past fop months; the actual rainfall during that period had been 8.92 inches, as against an average of 15.13 inches. The f ailing off had become even more pronounced during the last month. Mr 'Bates gave the following figures for the North Island for the period of four months ending April

Actual Avge; , Rainfall. Rainfall. Inches. Inches. Maunganui ... 5.40 16.52 Auckland 5.73 11.82 Hamilton ... 8.56 14.00 Rotorua ... 7.75 •• 18.57 Gisborne 5.63 15.68 Napier 5-99 J2.61 New Plylmouth ... 15.88 16.05> Masterton 6.55 11.99 Wellington 8.79 12./3 Mr Bates said anti-cyclonic conditions had continued all over the Dominion during the past month, and low presjsures have been deflected. There was at tne present time a westerly lull threatening in the South Island, but freshening to northerly winds, changing to southerly, were very probable here; these, hoAve'ver, were not likely to bring the rain so badly needed.