THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

179

W.S.W., fresh, steady breezes and fine weather will last for several days. We have traced the
diameter of one of these rotatory gales to 960 miles,* They seldom last more than three days,
before the weather becomes fine.

We now come to the subject more specifically connected with New Zealand, having thus
stated a few generalities, and we find it necessary to divide the group into eight portions to dis-
tinguish all the local winds.

The formation of these islands, their comparative breadth at the parallel of the East Cape,
with the narrow strip of land to the northward, the Strait, the high snow-capped mountains, and
extensive plains and forest tracts, must produce varieties of currents of air; and we find frequent
changes though of short duration. But placed as these islands are, apart from any deserts or icy
regions, the ordinary westerly current, unless blowing with unusual force, becomes neutralized by
the varied configurations of the country's surface; and for this reason we purpose to divide the
islands into eight atmospheric districts, namely:

1st. From the North Cape to Mercury Bay on the east coast, and to Kawhia on the west.
2nd. From Mercury Bay to the East Cape.
3rd. From the East Cape to Cook Strait.
4th. From Kawhia to Cape Farewell,
5th. Cook Strait
6th. From Cape Campbell to Cape Saunders.
7th. From Cape Saunders to Foveaux Strait.
8th. The West Coast of the Middle Island.

It has been frequently stated that New Zealand is a moist climate as compared to England,
but if meteorological data during a number of years be taken as the basis of comparison, it will
be found, such is not the case. Persons residing in New Zealand during 1851–1852, might
conclude there was an excess of moisture; but had a person lived in the country in 1853–1854
alone, he would come to an opposite conclusion, for the drought then was a source of considerable
uneasiness.

Farmers do not complain there of excessive moisture. Indeed, at Auckland no more falls
than is required to produce its prolific vegetation, although perhaps too frequent to bring grapes
and some other fruits to perfection which thrive in other parts of the colony.

We believe that more rain falls in the west of England and on the West Coast of Scotland
and Ireland than in any part of New Zealand.

The comparative absence of great intensity of electricity may modify the falls of rain. It
is seldom such floods are heard of as accompany the thunderstorms of other regions. The
greatest quantity of rain known to fall in twenty-four hours at Auckland within the three last
years was less than at Sydney Heads. We have not been able to trace any accident occurring
from lightning.

Fogs are rare, except in the extreme south. In the Bay of Islands and Hokianga there is
a morning fog occasionally in September, October, and November, which generally clears up at
10 a.m., and is followed by a fine day. In the Bay of Plenty we experienced a fog of three
days' duration in the month of October, but it was considered quite extraordinary, and they have
been experienced in the months of June and July in Hauraki Gulf, but seldom throughout the
day.

From the North Coast of New Zealand to Mercury Bay on the East Coast, and
Kafia (or Kawhia) on the West.

In this division the ordinary wind throughout the year is from N.W. to S.W. on the west
coast, and from W.S.W it lasts longest. In summer the N.W. and S.W. are both fine. In
winter the N.W. wind is prevalent, accompanied by rain. When the wind veers south of
W.S.W., it blows from the westward off the shore on the East Coast, otherwise the wind takes a
direction down the coast. There is a sea breeze into Auckland and other harbours on the East
Coast in summer weather.

N.N.W. winds are accompanied by rain. The N.E. wind already described, generally ends
in a severe gale. S.E. wind is rare, but when it comes, lasts several days, with cold, raw weather,
sometimes showery.† In winter there are sometimes very sudden changes on the East Coast
after short intervals of calm. Cloudless serenity in winter is usually followed by a wet day;
and a lunar halo is a sure prognostic of rain. The narrow interval between the seas on the West
and East Coasts and the extensive forests of Manukau conduce to moisture prevailing in Auck-
land to a greater extent than at the Bay of Islands. It is also for this reason Auckland is
milder in winter; frost being uncommon; whereas at the Bay, though a lower latitude, ice
may be found an inch thick occasionally.

• The N.E. gale is a progressive Cyclone; not a merely local wind.

We found, on an average of three years, that there were only twenty days with the wind between S. and
were preceded by S.W. winds, and ended in calm. They occured in April, May, June, and July.
S.E. gales are common—from a degree south of Auckland to the southward—we found only one
me in the Hauraki Gulf (in June, 1852). It lasted 48 hours,