400

oppressive, with showers of rain in the evening. The 25th and 26th were almost cloudless and very warm; a fog, the only one recorded during the month, occurred on the night of the former day, after ten o'clock. A very unpleasant day followed, hazy and oppressive, with much wind and dust. On Sunday, the 28th, a much needed supply of rain fell continuously from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., during which time 0·91 inches was collected; the day was very calm, only 35 miles of wind passed the station in 24 hours, principally from W.N.W. and N.W., a direction from which only a few slight showers of rain have been known to come in the last three years. The 29th was dull and overcast, and the month closed with two more days of magnificent weather.

It will be seen, on comparing the columns in the above Table, that the weather during the past month differs greatly in some respects from the mean of October 1864-5; but it must be remembered that the same month last year was very cold, wet, and stormy for the season; thus, the mean temperature in the shade in the last month was 8°·6 above the average, or warmer than the month of May in England; but the most striking contrast is in the heat of the sun’s rays, which was 20°·2 above the mean. There were, in fact, only two days on which the sun was not visible for at least half the day, while on 20 days solar radiation rose above 106°. The effect of such a high temperature on vegetation is shown by the fact, that already towards the close of the month new potatoes of a tolerable size and quite fit for use have been dug, and green peas and ripe strawberries grown in the open air were gathered near Christchurch.

Spontaneous evaporation, exposed to wind and sun, amounted to, from the 1st to the 16th, 1·942 inches, and from the 17th to the 31st, 2·806 inches; total, 4·748 inches. Hoar frost occurred on seven nights, but did very little injury. Lightning without thunder was visible on two occasions; viz., on the 10th towards N.W., and on the 14th towards the south. The mean velocity of the wind during different times of the 24 hours was, during six hours ending 3.30 p.m. 65 miles, during six hours ending 9.30 p.m. 43 miles, and during twelve hours ending 9.30 a.m. 65 miles, or total average daily velocity of 173 miles. The north winds exceeded the south winds in the proportion of 18·5 to 15·0, and the east exceeded the west winds in the proportion of 38·5 to 16·0, showing a mean direction for the month of E. by N. The days on which storms or very high winds occurred, but always with a clear sky, were the 11th, 12th, and 14th from N.W., and the 15th from N.E.

RAINFALL IN LYTTLETON.

The Meteorological Returns from the town of Lyttelton, which are now regularly furnished through the kindness of Captain Gibson, the Port Officer, show some interesting results, and prove that during the last month the rainfall in that town was less than the twentieth part of what fell in Christchurch; while it rained here, more or less, on seven days, only four entries are recorded in Lyttelton, where the total amount collected was only 0·091 inches, against 2·021 inches in Christchurch; and while 0·910 inches fell here on the 28th, in Lyttelton it only amounted to 0·026. As these are the first trustworthy returns which we possess of observations taken in Lyttelton or on the Peninsula, further particulars are required before forming an opinion on this difference, so remarkable when it is remembered that the distance between the two towns is scarcely seven miles.

HOKITIKA.

The month commenced with a week of very fine weather, free from rain except a few showers which fell on the 1st and 2nd. During this period the barometer rose steadily as in Christchurch, till it reached its maximum for the month on the 8th. After a dull cloudy day on the 9th the weather broke, and stormy wet weather prevailed until the 14th; while we experienced the dry hot north-west winds on the plains above mentioned, and extensive floods occurred in the rivers on both sides of the Range. On the 12th there was a thunderstorm at Hokitika, with heavy showers of hail and rain. Three days of fine weather with occasional showers of rain succeeded, and afterwards three more very warm and dry. Very heavy rain fell on the night of the 23rd and on the 24th, during which time 3·32 inches were collected. The 26th, 27th, and 28th were also showery, but the remaining three days of the month were remarkably fine, almost cloudless, with a light S.W. wind. Mean direction of the wind for the month, N.W. by N., or in the following proportion, N. to S. 23 to 12, E. to W. 9½ to 16. It will be seen by the above Table that the mean temperature was 2°·0, and the daily range 6°·8 lower than in Christchurch, while solar radiation was no less than 26°·8 lower. The highest temperature in the sun’s rays, registered at Hokitika, was 15°·6 below the mean for the month at the eastern station. The exposed thermometer on grass fell below freezing point on two nights. Thunder storms occurred on the 12th, and thunder without lightning was heard on the 18th.

R. 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.