MARTON SWELTERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 30, 5 February 1935, Page 6

MARTON SWELTERS

90 DEGREES IN SHADS MONDAY’S TERRIFIC HEAT HIGHEST FOR TWENTY YEARS (Own Correspondent) MABTON, Eeb. 4. The Rangitikei district, in common with other parts of New Zealand, is sweltering in the driest and hottest summer experienced for over twenty years. Saturday was thought to have been the hottest day of the 1934-35 season, but to-day has gone one better, the temperature rising as high as 91 degrees in the shade. In conversation with a “Chronicle” reporter ar Martin. this afternoon, Mr E. J. \\ Ude, of Pukepapa Road, said that before noon, his thermometer registered thr above mentioned figures. Air Wilde has been recording temperatures daily for ovei twenty years and the present season has already topped the > ore for excessive heat. How the temperature has been Steadily increasing for some days past was also related by Mr Wilde. Thursday of last week saw the figures at 83 degrees, Friday 87 degrees and .Saturday 90 degrees. On Sunday there was a drop of three degrees; but this morning and for some time after lunch the mercury was at 91 degrees. A peculiar fad relative to this season’s abnormal heat is that whereas in past years the hotte.-t part of the day has been between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., this season the highest readings, with only one or two exceptions, have been taken between 9 and JU o’clock in the morning. Consequent upon the prolonged spell of dry weather, Rangitikei pastures have a wit’ered and parched appearance, something almost unprecedented in the history of the district. Had it not been for the rain storms whi«ch swept the southern portions of the North Island at- the beginning of January, conditions in the Rangitikei district at lehst would have been more serious than they are. On Sunday many Marton resident® availed themselves of the proximity of the Rangitikei River and at Onepuhi, only six miles from here, there was a record crowd of bathers. Onepuhi is rapidly becoming one of the most popu'ar picnic resorts for Martonians and .<lnce the bathing jyool provides safety lor young and oKI, the line of cars parked near the bridge increases in numbers each Sunday. The many facilities offering are enjoyed by the courtesy of Mr J. JJ. Signal.