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The longest periods without rain were 23 days in February, and 14 days in April.

Hail fell nine times, principally in July. Snow or sleet fell on two occasions, viz., on the 19th of May there was a slight fall of snow at night, which on the following morning was scarcely discernible; and on the 27th July there were a few showers of sleet.

Fogs prevailed only on three days, for a few hours; there were besides a few days on which very slight fogs occurred, generally in the winter months, in the morning or evening.

Rainfall in Hokitika (West Coast, Canterbury).

The following particulars of the rainfall at Hokitika, in 1865, are compiled from observations taken by Mr. John Rochfort and Mr. Browning, District Surveyor.

At the commencement of the present year (1866) a permanent Meteorological Station has been established in that city, under the charge of Mr. James Rochfort, District Engineer for Westland.

Total, 8 months, 96·136 inches.

Wind.

The greatest storm during the year occurred on 24th November. The sky was bright and cloudless, except over the mountains in the interior, where it rained heavily. At 9 a.m., the barometer attained its minimum 29·008; the wind rising fast. At noon it blew furiously from N.W., the wind gauge showing for some time a mean pressure of 8 lbs. to the square foot; the atmosphere very dry and warm for the season; temperature 69·3; dew point, 43·5; humidity, 39. At 3 p.m., the wind changed to W., then S.W., and at sundown it fell perfectly calm.

No means were at hand to ascertain the maximum force of the wind during the gale; but probably it did not exceed a pressure of about 16 lbs. to the square foot. During the six hours ending 3.30 p.m., 171 miles of wind passed by.

On June 30th a very severe and destructive gale from S.W. passed over Lyttelton, the full force of which was not felt in Christchurch. The barometer, which had been very low, ranging from 29·40 to 29·00 for some days previous, fell rapidly on the morning of that day until 1.30 p.m., when it reached 28·66 (corrected for temperature), or 28·68 reduced to the sea level, the lowest on record at this station. It blew hard with heavy rain all day until midnight, when it fell calm and frosty; the day following was bright and clear.

Only one other gale deserves special mention. It took place on the 15th July, blowing heavily without intermission for eighteen hours from E. At various times there was a mean pressure of from six to eight pounds to the foot; 420 miles of wind passed by in the 24 hours. It was followed by heavy rain from S.W.

Five thunder-storms occurred at or about Christchurch during the year. The first, in May, was so slight as hardly to deserve mention. The second, on June 22nd, was confined principally to Banks’ Peninsula and Lyttelton. The third, on the evening of July 6th, was severe, but of short duration; the lightning was very bright, and proved fatal to a man who was struck by it in the neighbourhood of the town, and killed instantly. Heavy rain and hail accompanied this storm. Two more very slight thunderstorms occurred on the 3rd and 4th October.

One slight shock of earthquake was felt in Christchurch on September 9th, at five minutes past two a.m. It was described as having lasted 7 or 8 seconds, with a movement from N. to S., but very few persons were aware of its having occurred, as it took place at such an early hour.

(Signed) R. L. HOLMES,
Meteorological Observer.