H.—3l.

46

brought northerly and westerly gales in its front and southerly gales in its rear. Snow fell at this time in the back country. The rainfall was in excess of the average in the northern districts and on the east coast districts of both Islands, but below the average on the west coast of the South Island. July proved a fair mid-winter month, but with an unusual number of hard frosts both in the North and South Islands. Some heavy rain fell on-the 10th, due to a cyclone from the west, and unsettled and boisterous conditions were experienced between the 20th and 26th during the passage of an extropical cyclone down the east coasts. The heaviest falls of rain occurred on the 24th, in Maryborough and Canterbury, many rivers in these districts |flooding the low-lying country through which they flowed. In August very little rain fell, and Canterbury especially experienced one of the driest Augusts on record. A small portion of Hawke's Bay appeared to be the only district in the Dominion where a slight excess of the average took place. Except between the 4th and 9th, when abnormally high atmospheric pressure ruled, the barometer, though very unsteady, was nearly everywhere about the normal until the 30th, when a small westerly " low " passed to the southward. The beginning of September was ushered in with somewhat squally weather, especially on the west coast and southern district of the South Island, but anti-cyclonic conditions followed on the sth, lasting until the 9th, when a westerly disturbance brought more unsettled weather, with rain on the west coast and in the southern districts. While the barometer rose rapidly in the South, it continued to fall in the North Island, with a cyclone of moderate intensity developing to the westward of this Island, and between the 14th and 15th considerable »and general rain fell. On the 18th a cyclonic disturbance of remarkable intensity overspread the country, and its centre passed through Cook Strait on the evening of this date. During its passage across the Dominion stormy weather prevailed, with considerable rain, and some heavy snowfalls occurred inland in the South Island. The total fail for the month was below the mean throughout most of the North Island, and generally about the average in the South. Anti-cyclonic conditions, with the usual accompanying fair weather, prevailed from the Ist to the 9th of October, but thereon to the end.of December there was an almost total absence of welldeveloped atmospheric phenomena of this description. On the other hand, westerly disturbances of the A-shaped depression and cyclonic types were frequent, and some of long duration. The result was a predominance of strong westerly winds generally, and an excess of rainfall in those d'.siricts having a westerly aspect. The most remarkable feature was the intense westerly :t low " that enveloped the country on the 6th December, with a barometric pressure of 28-47 in. at the Bluff, which is the lowest reading ever recorded in New Zealand

Comparative Table: Year 1911.

Temperatui •e in Shade. Rainfall. I O j Stations. l 3. : i . |l |£ I eft ■ Sβ • « ft « ft P : P Is Ifl i h £ £ ! Prevailing Winds. Auckland Gisborne "Fahr. °Fahr. 80-0, 37-5, 22 Jan. 8 July 87-0, 28-0, 21 Jan. 19 June 84-0.. 28-8, 20 Jan. 19 June 81-0, 33-0, 3 Mar. 15 June "Fahr. °Fahr. 65-2 52-6 66-9 48-2 °Fahr. No. 58-9 205 57-5 142 56-3 ; 113 60'0 169 55-7 '158 I Inches. 2-17, 20 April 6-10. 17 May 4-52." 18 May 248,' 14 April, 26 May 2-70, 9 July I Inches. 29-946 i i SW, NE, S. W, S. s, w, w. SE.'SW, E. W, NE, E. Grr.eenmeadows (Napier) New Plymouth .. 64-8 47-9 i ! 69-8 50-1 Levin 82-0, 27-5, 30 Jan., 7 July 17 Feb. 76-0, 354, 24 Jan. 16 June 84-0, 31-0, 21 Jan. 29 June 79-0, 26-0, 3'Mar. 27 June 85-9, 24-6, 21 Mar. 17 July 85-0, 12-0, 17 Feb. 12 July 85-4, 27-3. 21 Mar. 18 & 19 May 82-0, 29-6, 22 & 23 26 & 27 • Mar. June 654 45-9 158 Wellington 61-0 50-2 55-6 I 180 56-1 j 115 53-9 ; 156 52-2 ; 127 50-7 i 120 53-5 J 122 180 6-32, 25 Feb. 1-87, 20 June 3-80, 20 June 2-94, 12 June 640, 24 July 4-16, 11 June I 1 j 29-944 29-937 29-907 29-922 N, S, NW. SW, N, S.E SW, E, NW. NE, SW. NW, SW. NE, SW. Nelson 64-8 474 115 Hokitika 63-1 44-8 156 Ohristchurch J 61-3 43-1 127 Hanmer 60-7 40-7 120 Lincoln 62-8 44-2 122 Dunedin 58-1 13-0 50-5 I 140 1-75, 22 Nov. 29-879 SW, NE. 140