150
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of JANUARY, 1871.

STATIONS.
BAROMETER.
Corrected and
Reduced to Sea
Level.
TEMPERATURE FROM SELF-REGISTERING
INSTRUMENTS, READ IN MORNING
FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS PREVIOUSLY.
COMPUTED
FROM
OBSERVATIONS.
RAIN.
WIND.
CLOUD.

• Previous 5 years.

NOTES.

Mongonui. - Almost continued rain and disagreeable weather up to the 21st; 2.63 inches recorded on 6th for 24 hours, with
N.W. wind; northerly gale on 10th and 11th; remainder of month fine and dry; prevailing wind from E. Maximum
temperature on 18th and 29th, 78°.

Auckland. - Strong winds in early part of month from N.E.; on 10th and 11th gale from N.E., with low barometer and showers;
heavy rain on 6th and 7th; otherwise weather was fine and dry, with light winds, at times cloudy and oppressive; prevailing
wind from N.E. On night of 27th, brilliant meteor observed. Maximum temperature on 24th, 79.5.

Taranaki. - Weather generally fine, though rather dull and close; strong gale on 11th from S.E., with heavy rain. Prevailing
wind from N.E. Maximum temperature on 20th, 82.6.

Napier. - Fine clear weather in beginning and latter part of month; showery in middle of month; on 11th a southerly gale,
when 3.35 inches of rain fell in 24 hours; prevailing wind from N.E. Maximum temperature on 17th, 74°.

Wellington. - Remarkably dry weather, only five days of rain, and the fall considerably below the average for same month in
previous 7 years; the early part of month was cloudy, sultry, and oppressive, with light winds, and very warm nights.
Latter part, though very warm, was bright and clear, with pleasant cool breezes at times; stormy on 28th, N.W. Large
and brilliant meteor on the night of the 1st, at 8:30 p.m.; also one on night of 27th, not so large; slight earthquake shocks
on 1st at 12:30 a.m., on 20th at 8:35 a.m., and on 30th at 2:30 p.m. Prevailing wind from N.W. Maximum temperature
on 3rd and 25th, 78.5.

Nelson. - Fine weather generally; small rainfall.

Christchurch. - Strong N.E. winds on 1st and 2nd, and on 16th stormy from N.W.; remarkably small rainfall; weather
throughout fine, though at times very hot; light winds chiefly from the N.E. Maximum temperature on 29th, 86.9.

Bealey. - Extremely fine weather generally; N.W. gales on 16th and 27th; prevailing winds from N.W.; brilliant meteor on
night of 1st. Maximum temperature on 26th, 79.2.

Hokitika. - Fine weather generally, with pleasant showers occasionally; remarkably small rainfall and moderate winds, chiefly
from N.W. Slight earthquake on 1st. Aurora on night of 11th. Maximum temperature on 11th, 74°.

Dunedin. - Light showers in middle of month, and stormy on 8th from S.W.; otherwise weather very pleasant but very warm;
thunder on 5th; light winds which prevailed from N. Maximum temperature on 28th, 85°.

Southland. - Magnificent weather throughout, very slight rain; several very warm days. Prevailing wind from S.E. Frequent
Auroras and numerous brilliant meteors. Maximum temperature on 15th, 86°.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Northerly weather prevailed throughout the month, attended with excessive rainfall at the north extremity of the Islands,
and small amount of rain with average humidity and high atmospheric pressure in the south. Average of pressure for all
stations, 0.162 above that usual for this month, and temperature 0.4 above the usual average. The meteor on the 1st was
observed over an area of 630 miles from N. to S. and 250 miles in width, passing through the zenith at Picton; altitude less
than 30 miles; form pear-shaped; apparent length 1°, and diameter of head 10'; detonation heard within a radius of 80 miles
from Picton. Meteor of 27th crossed North Island from N.E. to S.W., almost as brilliant as the above. Earthquake of 1st
also felt at White's Bay, Picton, and Havelock, and one at Greymouth on the 8th.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.

Printed under the authority of the New Zealand Government, by GEORGE DIDSBURY, Government Printer, Wellington.