Union Literary Society.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 306, 1 June 1889, Page 2

Union Literary Society.

Onb subject that of all others is the most talked about, and yet with the least amount of intereet so far as it may be regarded as a topic of conversation, is the weather; but the subject as dealt with by Mr Featon at the Union Literary Society on Thursday night had an unusgally instructive and entertaining quality, Mr Featon has made a practical study of the changes in the atmosphere, and in h|s essay he dwelt on the causes and effect of the atmospheric changes, taking particular notice of the changes in the district in which we live. On this point he eaid :->i‘ At this juncture I intend to present some remarks and ideas on our local weather, which may not be uninteresting, mors especially as I intend to advance theories in connection with it that may proyoke discussion. Referring to the map you will notice that Poverty Bay presents the appearance of a little pocket or indent in the coast line, and it is, as we are all aware, surrounded on the land side with high hills. It may be termed isolated in more senses than one ; particularly may we regard it so in respect to meteorological phenomena. I have bean enabled lately to compare the weather records that are daily made by the Meteorological Department as touching thg whois of New Zealand, and I am firmer in my opinion than ever that the climate ot Poverty Bay must bs exceptionally treated. New Zealanders ate naturally proud Of their Climate, or it would perhaps be more correct ta say their 'climates. 1 You probably remember the remark made ay Mr G. A. Sate, when trsvelliag through the colony, Wherever ha went the question was invariably put to him—' How dq you like our climate 5’ and he as invariably replied by asking in return, ' Which one da you refer tot’ It is quite evidsoi that Mr Bala was a man of penetration, When ws remember that New Zealand extends from about latitude 85 degrees south ta 47 degrees, being a range of 12 degrees, equal to 720 geographical miles, we may well understand that the climate should be variable, The prevailing winds abound the north island of New Zealand are N.E. and 8.W.; they may almost be oalled “ trade winds ” since they are so permanent in character, It is singular to remark' that these winds are scarcely, if ever, felt in Poverty Bay ; we are, by the configuration Ot the country, oqt of the reach of these winds, and I will attempt to explain the reason why. Ths north-east wind rising, as it does in the tropica, bears down in a south-westerly course on to New Zealand, As a natural consequence, it brings t;ith It plenty ot rain (rcridente in Auckland, imd'ih the Pay of Plenty can vouch for this). The clouds propelled by this wind discharge their contents on the dividing ranges between this and the Bay of Plenty. You will perhaps be surprised io hear that this wind is the selfsame one which bears down upon Poverty Bay in the shape at a 1 black south easter.’ 4t least this is my theory, and I opine it is brought'about it> this manner; It is well known that mouritaln tengos will fliyart the course uf w;nda, and further that rtroh'g winds travel in a circular or rotary manner. Naw on the map, we can imagine a strong north-easter striking the high mountain ranges in the Bay of Plenty ; the effect would be for it to recoil and break off almost at a right angle, or at least it would follow the coast line, and by its impetus, bear away again out to'sea beyond the East Cape. Meeting far away from the land, with ths still furious north-easter, it would re-double its effort and again strike the land, on thia coast, in an easterly or south-easterly manner, bearing with it freshly absorbed moisture, which it discharges upon us mqsily in saual|B. To il.

lustrate my argument, we have only to stand round the corner of a house, when a strong wind is blowing upon its front, and we feel the eddy come in upon us from an oblique angle and lose the true current altogether. It is a curious fact likewise that a vessel leaving here with a fair wind, upon arriving at the East Cape will most probably find it dead ahead, and a vessel going from the Bay of Plenty direction with a free sheet will have to close haul at the Cape. This is owing to the draft due to the configuration of the land, and I think bears me out in my theory. I will now direct your attention to the prevailing southwesterly wind, which is the prevalent wind on the west coast of this Island. North of Cape Egmont this wind blows true to ;(ita character, and south of that headland down to Cooks Straits, its direction is northwest. Thia splitting up of the wind is due to the high ranges in the vicinity of the Cape — after crossing these ranges, amidst|whioh Mount Egmont, Tongariro, Ruapehu, and Ngaruhue raise their >roud heads, the south westerly wind becomes further obliterated, and descends in various fantastic directions over the surrounding country. To my mind, it is quite uncertain, from what exact quarter it may descend upon Poverty Bay. You are all familiar with the hot westerly winds which prevail in this district during the early summer; you have all endured the overpowering effect which it has upon the system, and the lassitude which it produces. Man is not alone subject to its influence; the animals suffer much from it, and all exposed vegetation

by its scorched appearance demonstrates the ruthless character of its temper. This wind I believe to be nothing more or less than a tributary of the true south-wester. But you may say, what makes it so distressing m its character? My explanation is this: In crossing the forest ranges it becomes entirely denuded of ail traces of moisture, it further traverses a large district, the surface of which is composed almost entirely ot pumice. The friction of the wind over this latter region causes it to become highly charged with ■leotrioity, and fine particles of dust, and as such it presents itself to us, It may then bs said, to be both hungry and thirtty, and attacks both man, beast and vegetable, robbing them of moisture and strength. I have tested the absorbing nature of thia wind, and found that it will .evaporate a saucer full of water in twenty-four hours; this may give us an idea of the effect that such a wind has on the human system. But thia is not its only peculiarity; though we find it as a hot wind in the summer ws are hound to admit that it Is our coldest in winter, This vagary I believe is caused by it crossing the then snow-clad ranges in the interior, whore it obtains its low temperature, We should naturally believe that our coldest wind would come from the south, but it ta a wall known fact, that wind which travels over frozen land is colder than that which travels over the ocean, the ocean being the warmer of the two. Respecting the other winds peculiar to Poverty Bay, they aro entirely focal caused by currents of air, controlled by the aonflguratfon of the land. The standing rule respecting the wind in fine weather is, that it comes from the sea in the day rime, and goes off from the land at night; this is owing to the alteration of temperature in the two elements, as previously explained. For the benefit of my auditoro I will mention a few local weather phenomena which have oom* under my own personal observation, and which I believe to be pretty trustworthy. If rain comes in with the new moon and continues no change need be expected until the full. If rain is approaching, attended with storm, it will oommencs either at the turn of the ebb or at high water. If the weather is clearing up (after had weather) it will clear up conclusively at high water, or at lowest ebb. If sheet lightning appears in the east during the evening, the wind will be westerly next day, and vict ver»a. After three consecutive frosts, the weather will break for rain. If Haiti hill becomes cloud capped, rain will follow speedily. Respecting the seasons in Poverty Bay, I have tried for many years to reconcile them to some degree of rule, but I find that it is an absolute impossibility. I believe there are no rules which can be applied with any degree of certainty. If we have a dry cummer, it is no guarantee that the winter will be a wet one, or the reverse. The Maoris, I believe, assume a knowledge of future weather by certain native plant indications. In instances, when the kohai blossoms earlier than its usual time, in September, they say it is going to be a dry summer. Somotimea the kohai will blossom as early as the month of July, but this is due to the effect of a mild winter, which produces an early spring; and probably the mildness will be prolonged throughout the summer, more especially as I before stated, we dwell in a zone of weather Uncertain. On an exposed coast line open to the effects of the equinoctial gales, the weather may with more certainty be determined, since these currents come at appointed times and from recognised causes, performing nearly the same functions season after season, But with us it is different. I may mention that during my 15 years' residence in the Bay I can only call to mind three electrio or thunder storms, and these visited us during the winter months. In Europe such storms only occur in the hot months of summer, and are unknown in the winter. I must confess that lam unable to design any reason for this difference in this phenomenon. It is perhaps a subject (now that I am concluding my paper) that I properly submit to my younger scientific friendi to account for." At the conclusion of the essay, the Chairman and Messrs Crawford, Mann, Williams, and Kenny, made remarks touching on the points notiasd by the essayist and adding further information. Alluding to ths winds Mr Crawford mentioned that at the time of the big flood in poverty pay a boat was enabled to sail up the Tarqhstu river to Makauri, while those who attempted to go up the river with the use of oars only could make no headway against the current. Prior to the close of the meeting it was announced that Mr Mann had undertaken the duties of Secretary and Treasurer.