and occasional slight frosts at night. On the 19th and 20th solar radiation rose to 120°.2 and 119°.7 respectively; such a heat in the sun’s rays was not registered last year until the middle of December. On the 21st the weather changed, and except on the 26th and 30th, which were fine and pleasant, cold cloudy days prevailed to the close of the month. Frequent showers of rain fell during this period, but the total fall for the month was less than three-quarters of an inch, much below what was required for agricultural purposes, the grass and crops being still very much in want of a seasonable supply of moisture. Spontaneous evaporation, exposed to wind and sun, during the month was 2.814 inches. The exposed thermometer on grass (nocturnal radiation) fell below 32° Fah. on nine nights. No thunder storms, or gales other than those mentioned above, occurred; but very bright sheet lightning was seen on the evening of the 7th, over the mountains to the N.W., during the prevalence of very severe weather there and on the West Coast.

Shown in the above Table. From the 1st to the 6th the weather was in general fine, with light showers of rain each day. On the 7th there was a heavy rainfall, and at night a storm blew from N.W., with thunder and lightning. Two fine days succeeded, followed by another thunderstorm on the morning of the 12th, with heavy rain. The 13th and 14th were partly wet; the 15th and 16th fine. The night of the 17th was squally, with showers of rain; so also were the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st; the wind generally from the north during that period. The 25th and 26th were stormy in the afternoon, from S.W. The remainder of the month was tolerably fine, except the afternoon of the 28th, which was wet, and the 30th, which was showery.

The accompanying diagram shows at a glance that the barometer oscillated greatly, while the usual remarkable accordance of readings on both coasts is still observable. Very high at the beginning of the month, the mercury fell steadily till the night of the 7th, when the abovementioned rough weather occurred at Hokitika and among the mountains. During the next two days it rose nearly an inch, falling again on the 13th and 14th, when similar weather prevailed in that district. Rising after that date to the evening of the 14th, when it fell steadily until the 19th, when it reached 29.85. On the 20th and 21st it again rose nearly an inch, but regained its former level on the 26th. On the 29th the lowest reading in the month was recorded, viz. 29.01. The month closed with the glass still very low, but rising slowly.

Hokitika.

R. L. HOLMES,
Meteorological Observer, Christchurch.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,
Christchurch, Nov. 1, 1866.

HIS Honor the Superintendent directs it to be notified that he has been pleased to appoint JAMES SOMERVILLE TURNBULL, M.D., to be Visiting Physician to the Christchurch Hospital.

F. E. STEWART,
Provincial Secretary.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,
Christchurch, Nov. 1, 1866.

HIS Honor the Superintendent directs it to be notified that he has been pleased to appoint LLEWELLYN POWELL, M.R.C.S., to be House Surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital.

F. E. STEWART,
Provincial Secretary.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,
Christchurch, Nov. 1, 1866.

HIS Honor the Superintendent directs it to be notified that he has been pleased to appoint HENRY HORSFORD PINS, M.R.C.S., to be Visiting Surgeon to the Christchurch Hospital.

F. E. STEWART,
Provincial Secretary.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,
Christchurch, Nov. 1, 1866.

HIS Honor the Superintendent directs it to be notified that he has been pleased to appoint JOHN WILLIAM SMITH COWARD, M.R.C.S., to be Surgeon to the Lunatic Asylum, Gaol, and Police, and Immigration Barracks, Christchurch.

F. E. STEWART,
Provincial Secretary.

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.