570
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of APRIL, 1872.

• Altitude, 2,104 feet.

NOTES FOR APRIL, 1872.

Mongonui.—Wet unpleasant weather, rainfall considerably above the average. Winds prevailed from N.W., and generally
moderate; strong N. wind on 3rd, with rain; and on 28th stormy from same quarter, with rain. Maximum rainfall recorded
on 28th, 1.30 inch; frequent thunder. Maximum temperature, 76.0.

Auckland.—Showery weather generally, with little wind, which was variable; atmosphere in evenings rather close and oppressive.
Heavy rain on night of 4th; 1.72 inch registered on 5th; from 14th to end of month rained every day; lightning every
evening from 21st to 27th, with a violent thunder storm on morning of 24th; wild, stormy night on 28th from N.E.
Maximum temperature on 1st, 73.8.

Taranaki.—Wet greater part of month, and squally; prevailing winds from N.E. and S.E. On 18th and 19th strong S.E. gale,
no rain; greatest rainfall on 5th, 1.23 inch for 24 hours. Maximum temperature on 1st, 77.0.

Napier.—Early part of month tolerably fine, with light winds, chiefly from N.W.; from 13th it was wet and unpleasant, though
occasionally fine. On 17th, strong S.W. wind with rain; wind prevailed from N.W., N.E., and S.W.; greatest fall of rain
recorded on 5th, 0.89 inch. Maximum temperature on 8th, 76.0.

Wanganui.—Wet and disagreeable generally, with strong N.W. winds in early part of month, especially on 4th, 6th, and 12th;
the latter part was tolerably calm and mild, with light showers; thunder storms occurred on 2nd, 3rd, 23rd, and 30th, the
latter accompanied by heavy rain, 0.500 of an inch falling in one hour; greatest fall in 24 hours was 0.85 inch on 4th.
Maximum temperature, 75.0.

Wellington.—Fine and bright on 1st and 2nd; rain came on in night of 2nd from N.W., and lightning; continued wet up to
5th, wind changing from N.W. to S.E. and light fresh N.W. breeze on 7th, but fine and pleasant to 10th; the remainder
of the month was excessively wet with the wind chiefly from N.W. and S.E.; strong S.E. wind on 17th with rain, and very
cold; on the 18th strong gale, commencing from S.E. and changing to S.W. at night, with heavy rain; on 19th gale
increased from S.W. and rained heavily all day, causing floods, very severe and cold, 3.170 inches recorded on 20th for
previous 24 hours. The rainfall for this month is the greatest recorded for any month during the previous eight years; for
January, 1867, the fall was 10.13 inches, and for October, 1869, 11.15 inches. Dense fog on 22nd and 23rd, also frequently
foggy during evenings. Maximum temperature on 2nd, 70.8.

Nelson.—Very wet month, some heavy falls of rain, especially on night of 2nd; 4.46 inches recorded on 3rd. Wind chiefly from
N.E. and S.E.; on 12th, heavy gale from N.E. with rain; on 25th, 26th, and 27th, strong S.E. winds but no rain; thunder
on 11th and 22nd; at times pleasant. Maximum temperature on 1st, 77.0.

Christchurch.—Unusually wet; a few fine days occurred before the 16th, but after that almost continuous rain, the prevailing
winds being E., S.E., and S.W.; heavy fall on night of 4th and morning of 5th, and also on night of 19th, the latter being
2.168 inches; strong S.E. wind on night of 27th, and rain. Maximum temperature on 3rd, 72.2.

Bealey.—Wet, cloudy, unpleasant weather throughout; no severe storms, but squally, and strong N.W. winds on 8th and 9th,
with rain and thunder on 8th; 1.720 inch rain recorded on 12th. Prevailing wind N.W.; five days of fog. Maximum
temperature on 2nd, 73.0.

Hokitika.—On the whole, fine and pleasant weather, rainfall below average, winds prevailed from N.E. and S.E., and usually
moderate; on night of 2nd it was wet and stormy from N.E., and strong gale on night of 8th from S.W.; greatest rainfall
recorded on 3rd and 12th, 0.90 inch. Maximum temperature on 2nd, 70.5.

Dunedin.—Unusual amount of rainfall for this month, but light winds prevailing from N. and N.E.; maximum rainfall on 29th,
1.368 inch for previous 24 hours, wind S.E.; fog on 20th and 28th. Maximum temperature on 3rd, 67.0.

Queenstown.—Weather generally fair, but occasional storms accompanied by rain from S.E.; very stormy on 19th from that
quarter, but no rain; greatest rainfall recorded on 29th, 0.68 inch. Wind prevailed from N.W., but frequent calms.
Maximum temperature on 2nd, 70.0.

Southland.—Fine dry weather for time of year, with almost constant easterly and northerly winds; strong gales from eastward
(dry) on 19th, 20th, 26th, and 27th; and from S.E. on 28th and 29th, with rain; thunder on 7th, lightning on 11th, hail
on 8th, night fogs on 23rd and 24th. Maximum rainfall, 0.750 inch; maximum temperature on 3rd, 76.0.

GENERAL REMARKS.

This month was remarkable for the unusual amount of rain that fell throughout the Colony. There were no very severe gales
except at Wellington, where, on the 18th and 19th, a heavy S.W. storm, with excessive rainfall, occurred, doing much damage.
The atmospheric pressure was low throughout, and temperature higher than usual. Very slight earthquake at Wellington on
10th, at 2.22 p.m.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.

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