18

bright clear sky prevailed in general until the close of month. The 23rd was the hottest day, when the temperature in the shade rose to 86°2. It blew hard on the night of the 20th from the north-west; and a thunder-storm, with bright lightning, occurred at 3 a.m. on the 30th, followed by a gale from the north-west, a hot dry wind, as usual with storms from that quarter in summer; on that day the mean velocity of the wind for six hours, ending 3.30 p.m., was 27.3 miles per hour. The only other changes worth mentioning were — great thermal range on the 23rd, namely, 39°, or from 86°2 to 47°; and the great dryness of the air on the 23rd and 31st, when relative humidity fell to 40 and 41 respectively. Besides the hot day before mentioned, the temperature in the shade rose above 80° on the 18th, 22nd, 23rd, 30th, and 31st. Sheet lightning was seen on the night of the 30th, towards the north. The mean temperature of the month was above the average, viz., 61°6 to 59°9. Solar radiation was 2°3, and nocturnal radiation 8°2, below the mean for the month; the rainfall and the remaining results were about the average. Spontaneous evaporation was 7.374 inches. Mean direction of the wind, E. by N.

Rainfall from January 1st to December 31st, each year, as follows:—

1864 ... 22.098 inches on 114 days.
1865 ... 24.349 " " 107 "
1866 ... 19.440 " " 86 "
1867 ... 30.025 " " 96 "

HOKITIKA.

A very unsettled month; rain fell on 21 days, equal to 14.06 inches; the heaviest fall took place on the 5th, when 3.10 inches were collected. Fog prevailed on the 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 15th. One gale of wind occurred, namely, on the 28th, from the north-east, and two thunder-storms, on the 30 and 31st. The mean temperature of the month was 57°1, or 4°5 below Christchurch, owing to the days being very much cooler, the nights being about equally warm on both coasts. The rainfall from January 1 to December 31 was 110.11 inches on 193 days, against 129.12 inches on 213 days in 1866. The mean direction of the wind was N.W. by N.

BEALY.

At this station the general character of the weather closely resembled that at Hokitika. There was the same heavy fall of rain in the beginning of the month, particularly on the 5th; the same bright clear days from the 7th to the 12th; and two thunder-storms at the close of the month. There was, however, more wind, as gales blew on the 22nd, 23rd, 29th, and 30th, always from the north-west. A very high wind prevailed on several other days besides; for instance, on the 14th, when 501 miles passed the station. Snow fell on the surrounding hills on the 19th. Compared with Christchurch, the mean temperature was 6°3 below. Seven nights in the month were frosty. Prevailing direction of the wind N.W. Rainfall from April 1st to December 31st, 81.61 inches on 155 days.

R. L. HOLMES,
Meteorological Observer,
Christchurch.
January 18th, 1868.

PUBLIC NOTICE.

I hereby give notice that, immediately after the Sale by Public Auction of Town and Rural Lands, to be held at the Land Office, Christchurch, at the hour of noon, on Thursday, the 13th day of February next, shall have taken place, the Lease for depasturing purposes of General Government Reserves, Nos. 77 and 77A, situated at German Bay Hill, Akaroa, and containing respectively 35 acres 3 roods 11 perches and 64 acres, will be submitted to competition, and granted to the highest bidder.

Conditions of Lease may be ascertained on application at this office.

Land Office, Christchurch,
January 13, 1868.

WILLIAM GUISE BRITTAN,
Commissioner of Crown Lands.

DISSOLUTION OF CO-PARTNERSHIP.

NOTICE is hereby given that the co-partnership hitherto subsisting between William McKenzie and William Wilkinson Harrison, as Tailors and Habit Makers, at Christchurch, under the style or firm of “McKenzie and Harrison” has been this day dissolved by mutual consent. The business of the said co-partnership will in future be carried on by the said William Wilkinson Harrison.

All moneys owing to and payable by the late firm will be received and paid by the said William Wilkinson Harrison.

Dated this tenth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.

W. MACKENZIE,
W. W. HARRISON.

Witness—RICHARD D. THOMAS,
Articled Clerk,
Christchurch.

CHRISTCHURCH:

Printed, under the authority of the Provincial Government of the Province of Canterbury, at the Lyttelton Times Office, Gloucester Street, by CROSBIE WARD and WILLIAM REEVES, Official Printers for the time being to the said Government.