snow. From the 21st to 27th the nights were sometimes cold and frosty, but the days were mild and pleasant. About this time the earlier trees, such as the willow and gooseberry, commenced throwing out leaves. The 28th was the warmest day in the month (64.8° in shade), a dry N.W. wind blowing, and causing clouds of dust to rise in the streets; a few heavy drops of rain from S.W. fell towards evening. The last three days of the month were almost cloudless, with a light breeze from E. and N.E.

Like the preceding month, August was quite free from gales or very high winds; the daily velocity exceeded 200 miles only three times; viz., on the 9th and 10th from N.E., and on the 20th from N.W. and S.W. The mean direction of the wind was E.N.E. The mean force in pounds pressure on the square foot, at 9.30 a.m., .28; at 3.30 p.m., .42; at 9.30 p.m., .15. The rainfall, 0.616 inches, divided over nine days, was much below the average, and only about one-third of the amount of evaporation, which was 1.796 inches. The want of rain is much felt in the agricultural districts. The following figures show the amount of rain which fell in Christchurch during the first eight months of each year since the station was established:—

Rainfall from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, 1866 . . 12.946 inches.

" " " 1865 . . 18.103 "

" " " 1864 . . 14.423 "

The mean temperature in the shade exceeds the average by 2°.2. The extreme range of temperature in the shade was 37°.5. The mean temperature of evaporation was 42°.4. Solar radiation was remarkably high, being no less than 10°.8 in excess of the mean for the month; rising to 100°.7 on the 30th, a figure which was not reached last year until the 1st of November, and in 1864 until 23rd of October. Terrestrial radiation showed a mean of 30°.1, the exposed thermometer on grass falling below 32° on 19 nights; two very cold nights occurred in particular, the 2nd and 19th, when that instrument fell to 19°.3 and 18°.6 respectively.

Hokitika.

The month commenced with three very fine days and frosty nights, followed by three more of unsettled weather, more or less rain falling each day. The 7th and 8th were fine; then occurred five days of stormy weather, with heavy rains, no less than 7.89 inches falling in that period; on the 11th alone 2.62 inches were collected, including some hail which fell during a thunderstorm. The 14th, 15th, and 16th were fine, also the 18th. There was a gale from S.W. for three hours on the 20th. From then to the close of the month small quantities of rain fell each day, except on the 26th, 29th, and 30th, sometimes only showers in the night-time. The barometer reached its minimum on the 12th, and its maximum on the 31st, both periods identical with those in Christchurch. The total rainfall in Hokitika, from January 1 to August 31, was 79.52 inches on 181 days.

The above Table shows some of the principal results of observations taken during the last month, but no comparison can be made with previous years, as the station was not established in Hokitika until the beginning of January last.

E. L. HOLMES,
Meteorological Observer,
Christchurch.

CHRISTCHURCH:
Printed, under the authority of the Provincial Government of the Province of Canterbury, at the ‘Press’ Office, Cashel-street, by James Edward Fitzgerald, Official Printer for the time being to the said Government.