registered in the shade during that period was only 78·8°. The 26th and 27th were overcast and misty, the remaining days of the month very fine.

The total rainfall was 1·056 inches on five days, or 1·10 inches below the average.

The mean temperature, 62·6°, was 0·6° above the average for the month; the nights being considerably warmer, although the days were in general cooler. The mean daily range of temperature, 15·4°, was 5° below the average. Total range 47·6°. Although the 1st and 2nd days were the stormiest, the greatest velocity of the wind in miles on any one day, viz. 370, occurred on the 18th, when a strong steady, but not boisterous, N.E. breeze blew for 24 hours. Sheet lightning was seen once, on the evening of the 28th, to the N.E. Mean direction of the wind, E. by N.

Rainfall at Lyttelton, 2·157 inches on five days; greatest fall in one day 0·665 inches, on the 27th.

Hokitika.

At Hokitika the weather during the month of January was, for the first nine days, very changeable; more or less rain falling each day except on the 3rd. From the 10th to the 17th, and from the 22nd to the 25th, fine bright weather prevailed; but the remainder of the month showery or wet, sometimes only a little mist falling during the daytime, with frequent fogs, and a close sultry atmosphere. There were no storms or very high winds; mean daily velocity 127 miles, against 205 in Christchurch. Total rainfall 7·10 inches on 17 days, against 10·56 inches on 20 days, in January, 1866. Greatest rainfall in one day 1·85 inches, on the 8th. Mean temperature 61·5°, or 1·1° lower than in this city, when the days were somewhat warmer, and the nights cooler. Highest temperature in shade 74·0°, on the 25th. Total thermal range in shade 27·2°.

R. L. HOLMES,
Meteorological Observer,
Christchurch.

COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT.

Ship “Himalaya”

The Commissioners, having visited the Ship “Himalaya” upon her arrival, have much pleasure in expressing their satisfaction with the appearance generally of the various compartments, the condition of the Immigrants, and their unanimity in speaking highly of the Captain, Surgeon, and Officers.

Provisions and water had been of excellent quality, and regularly served out throughout the voyage.

The Commissioners beg again to draw the attention of the Government to the very light and unsubstantial character of the booby-hatches. The one over the main hatchway of the “Himalaya” had a hinge broken on either side, and was altogether of a nature to be very hazardous in the event of shipping heavy seas.

The Matron is stated to have performed her duties very efficiently.

The distilling apparatus (Normandy’s) had worked well throughout the voyage.

The Commissioners have pleasure in recommending the payment of all gratuities, and the further employment of the Surgeon-Superintendent.

R. R. ARMSTRONG.
John T. ROUSE.

PUBLIC NOTICE.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in pursuance of the Public-house Ordinance, Sess. XXIV. No. 17, 1866, a Quarterly Meeting of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace, in and for the Colony of New Zealand, will be held on Tuesday, the 5th day of March next, in the Resident Magistrates’ Court-house at Christchurch, Lyttelton, Kaiapoi, Timaru, and Akaroa, at eleven in the forenoon, for the purpose of taking into consideration the following applications for Public-house licenses.

Received at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch:

Received at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch:

THOMAS B. BAIN,
Clerk to the Court.

Resident Magistrate’s Court,
Christchurch, February 11, 1867.

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.