A Brief Review of 1941.—During the mild and sunny summer of 1940–41 crops ripened rather prematurely, but gave good yields. Some heavy falls of rain arrested the threatened decline in dairy production. Heavy rains towards the end of March relieved the droughty conditions in eastern districts, thus assuring good autumn growth although a cool, dry April checked this somewhat. Cultivation and sowings in autumn suffered few protracted interruptions. The winter was cold, August being a particularly wet month. The spring months, as well as December, were frequently dull and unsettled. Stock fared satisfactorily, but shearing and harvesting were carried out with considerable difficulty. Haymaking was often impossible, but good crops of ensilage were gathered. The season was unusually late for both fruit and vegetables.
Over the year as a whole temperatures were everywhere below normal. Sunshine was subject to considerable local vagaries, Auckland and Timaru having considerable excesses, whereas Palmerston North, Wellington, Lincoln, and Waimate experienced large deficiencies. Rainfall was in most places above normal, although the reverse was the case in the Bay of Islands, Gisborne, Central Hawke's Bay, Westland, and Central Otago. The average wind speed over the country was somewhat less than usual.
Seasonal Notes.—Dry conditions persisted until mid-January, when good rains fell over the North Island and Nelson. February, being on the whole dry and mild, was a good harvest month, but a poor one for green crops. Parts of northern Otago had an exceptionally dry spell, but there were heavy rains from the 12th to 14th in Westland, Nelson, Marlborough, and Wellington. March, which, except to the west of the Southern Alps, was very wet, more than compensated for the preceding dry regime. From the 12th to the 19th, Canterbury experienced heavy flooding. The, remainder of the autumn was cool, with numerous light frosts and occasional showers. On the 3rd and 4th April exceptional rain fell west of the Manawatu Gorge and occasioned flooding with considerable damage. In June, cool wet weather was prevalent, and the ranges received a heavy mantle of snow, which, however, largely disappeared during a favourable July. August was cool with frequent rain, which, in the south Wellington and Canterbury districts, gave record totals. Flooding occurred on the Canterbury Plains on the 18th and 19th. During the month rain and snow, together with lack of sunshine, were responsible for some loss of stock. Conditions were much more beneficial in September, which was reasonably dry and sunny. October was very unreliable with excess rain in the North Island, and cool, frosty weather kept the season backward. Changeable westerly weather prevailed during November, there being scattered hail and snow. December was unseasonable, and was the dullest December for many years past. While green growth was stimulated, adverse conditions further delayed the ripening of most crops. Temperatures were very cold towards the end of the month.
THE NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL YEAR-BOOK, 1943
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May 21, 2019, 04:56:24 PM