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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

In the harbours on the West Coast the ordinary breezes are from S.W., with land winds
in summer, which, however, are very light and partial.. In. Manukau the West winds are
peculiarly fresh, the contour of the coast here forming the apex of an obtuse angle. The ha
bours on the East Coast draw the sea breeze into their various channels in summer. In winter
the weather is very variable.

During our experience the maximum temperature in the shade at Auck-
land in summer was ................................................................................................................... 79
Minimum in winter ........................................................................................................................ 40
Mean in summer ............................................................................................................................ 67
" winter ............................................................................................................................................ 52
And the mean annual fall of rain was .......................................................................................... 43 inches

Mercury Bay to East Cape

Between Mercury Bay and the East Cape the summer breezes are from the westward, dying
away at night in and near the shore, but not in the Bay. A N.E. gale may be expected once
a month, prevailing from March to July. S.E. winds are common near the East Cape, some-
times lasting for several days, and often very strong, but seldom blowing beyond the Mercury
Islands. There is also a very strong S.W. gale, which is dangerous inroadsteads between
Cape Runaway and the East Cape; it is preceeded by rollers and unsteady aws of wind.
The people in sight of White Island can foretell weather by the appearance of the steam
from Whakeri; with west winds the smoke is low, and more of it is seen. The S.E. wind, they
say, smothers the steam. No doubt the density of the atmosphere tells on that vast body of
vapour.

The climate of Mercury Bay may be considered fine, generally.

From East Cape to Cook Strait.

Going from East Cape to Cook Strait a very marked phenomenon frequently takes place
op rounding the East Cape. The stong westerly wind that drives across the bay carries its line
a few miles eastward of the Cape, but southward of this the breeze is N.E. Sometimes a vessel
may be becalmed for hours between two strong breezes from W. and N.E. The configuration
of the coast at once accounts for this:-The west wind meets with little obstacle in crossing the
narrow and comparative low land north of the ranges forming the southern boundaries of the
Bay of Plenty, at the East Cape it meets the lofty Hikurangi, and the breadth of the country now
being considerable; the rarified air over it induces regular sea breezes from the N.E. succeeded
in the evenings by the land wind for a short distance from the shore. An exception is the N.E.
gale, known on this part of the coast as the black north-easter, to distinguish it from the onlin-
ary san breeze from the same quarter. In winter the sea breeze cannot be depended upon, and
S.E. and S. gales set in very suddenly, and even in summer the S.E. winds sometimes last for
some days.

In Hawke Bay in spring there are fierce westerly winds for days, with a low barometer, and
variable weather, ending in a cold south, wind, blowing hard for a short time, when the ordinary
weather returns.

This part of New Zealand has a fine climate.
The barometer rises for N.E., S.E., and S. winds, and falls for N., N. W., and W. winds.

West Coast, from Kawhia to Cape Farewell.

Along the coast of Taranaki the sea breeze sets in from W.S.W. to S.W. drawing round
to. S.E. during the day and dying away at sunset.
A. N.E. gale produces a northerly swell at Taranaki, greater than when at N.W.
N.W. winds blow very hard for about twelve hours, and then change.to.W.S.W. afterwards
to S.W.

From November to April the weather is fine. In June and July S.E. winds prevail.
Gales at any season, seldem last more than forty-eight hours. Sometimes a N. W. swell sets in
without the wind blowing home. The barometer rises for S. and E. winds, and falls for
northerly, and north-westerly, which is the rainy quarter.
The proportion of N.W. to S.E. winds is about seven to four, which may be assumed as also
the proportion of S.W. winds to all others on the west coast.

Cook Strait,

In Cook Strait, that is, between Cape Campbell and Stephen Island, it may be said there
are only two winds, N. W. and S.E. It is easy to account for the wind coming only from these
two points, N. W. or S.E. by the configuration of the Strait, a channel of that direction, bound
by lofty hills on either side; but it is not so easy to establish the causes of the sudden ch
with regard to the winds which are blowing outside the Strait. It may, however, be par
accounted for, if we suppose the ordinary ocean wind (W.S.W.) to be represented by the N.