A—3

Meteorological

Rainfall for 1946 was greater than normal, and as it was spread over the whole year there were no periods of serious drought. A severe storm, with winds of hurricane force and very heavy seas, was experienced on 27th December, 1946. Fortunately the storm was of a reasonably short duration, approximately twelve hours. Lowest barometer reading was 29-224 in. Some damage was done to buildings, particularly on the northern side of the island. Bananas and coconut trees were extensively damaged, but other food crops were not greatly affected. The system of issuing hurricane warnings from the Meteorological Office in Fiji, which had recently been put into operation, proved its value, as it gave information regarding the probable path and intensity of the storm and enabled all possible precautions to be taken before it reached Niue. Shipping There were thirteen shipping calls during the year ended 31st December, 1946, including ten calls by regular cargo and passenger vessels. Except for the period February to April, a regular and frequent shipping service was maintained by the N.Z.G-.M.V. " Maui Pomare " and the Union Steam Ship Co.'s M.Y. " Matua." Exclusive of parcel-mail, inward cargo handled at the port of Alofi totalled 901 tons and outward cargo 965 tons. Also 3,560 bags of parcel-mail, containing Native plaited ware, were shipped. The average cargo handled on each call showed a considerable increase over the previous year; 89 passengers disembarked and 105 embarked.

By Authority: E, V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —1947.

Price 9d. ]

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— 1942. 1943. 1944. 1945. 1946. Total rainfall (inches) 71-35 64-79 71-55 80-80 93-94 Number of rainy days 149 146 158 210 206 Highest for any day (inches).. 6-15 2-94 5-15 3-60 4-50 Date 20th Sept. 20th Oct. 29th Jan. 23rd Apr. 15th Dec. Highest temperature (p.) 92-0 94.0 90-0 92-0 90-8 Date .. 26th'Jan. 11, 12, 14, 15, 13, 17, 19, 25, 22nd Mar. 28th Mar 25 Feb. ; 3 28 Mar. Nov. Lowest temperature (p.) 60-0 58-0 58-5 57-0 60-2 Date 10th Oct. 17th July 28th Aug. 6th June. 27th June. Mean of maximum thermometer 83-1 84-5 82-4 82-27 82-28 (»■) Mean of minimum thermometer 70-3 69-77 69-3 70-3 70-16 (*.)