468

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of APRIL, 1873.

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.
| Mean
Reading | Mean
Range. | Mean
Temp.
Shade. | Mean
Daily
Range
of
Temp. | Extr'me
Temp. | Max.
Temp.
in Sun's
Rays. | Min.
Temp.
on
Grass. | Mean
Elastic
Force
of
Vapour. | Mean
Deg. of
Satu-
ration
(=100.) | Total
Fall
in
Month
(inches) | No. of
Days
on
which
Rain
fell. | Average
Daily
Velocity
in Miles
for
Month | Maximum
Amount
in any
24 hours,
Month, and Date. | Mean
for
Month,
(0to10).

MONGONUI ... 29.945 '875 64.2 12.2 28.0 137.0 .492 82 21.820 21 183 474, 3rd 5.0
Same month previous 7 years 30.071 62.6 ... .465 78 3.843 9

AUCKLAND ... 29.948 '970 59.9 11.3 25.8 125.0 20.6 .434 84 4.475 18 357 630, 23rd 7.0
Same month previous years 30.004 61.9 ... .444 78 3.479 14

TARANAKI ... 29.924 1.084 60.1 16.0 31.0 38.0 .303 58 2.200 10 249 520, 13th 5.9
Same month previous years 30.028 59.3 ... .398 73 3.692 12

NAPIER ... 30.046 1.335 57.9 14.0 31.0 126.0 .384 80 5.120 19 280 900, 26th 4.0
Same month previous 6 years 29.994 58.4 ... .394 75 2.398 8

WELLINGTON 30.034 1.256 56.0 12.9 28.8 124.0 34.0 .317 70 2.983 13 133 326, 12th 5.2
Same month previous 9 years 29.993 57.1 ... .355 75 4.115 13

*WANGANUI ... 29.790 1.170 54.8 20.2 40.0 133.0 .324 76 1.870 6 240 550, 3rd 5.0
Same month previous year 29.910 58.9 ... .355 71 2.930 16

NELSON ... 29.949 '955 56.6 23.2 39.0 148.0 27.0 .307 67 4.120 5 4.7
Same month previous years 29.969 57.1 ... .377 76 4.251 6

CHRISTCHURCH 30.105 1.166 51.5 14.1 32.6 115.8 17.4 .342 79 1.670 6 120 349 4th 5.9
Same month previous 9 years 29.969 53.8 ... .379 79 2.583 9

*BEALEY ... 30.028 1.070 48.2 22.1 42.0 117.6 4.0 .277 83 .820 4 9
Same month previous 5 years 29.789 48.2 ... .274 82 7.480 17 3.8

HOKITIKA ... 30.037 1.194 54.3 16.6 29.5 81.2 31.4 .339 80 3.150 8 172 436, 7th 3.0
Same month previous 7 years 30.006 54.4 ... .396 87 8.170 15

DUNEDIN ... 29.969 1.072 50.7 11.5 26.0 120.0 22.0 .311 85 3.948 13 141 460, 4th 6.0
Same month previous 9 years 29.991 51.9 ... .288 74 2.280 14

*QUEENSTOWN ... 30.153 '952 51.5 15.5 30.7 116.2 .276 74 .660 6 103 207, 3rd 4.3
Same month previous year 52.3 ... .270 69 2.430 10

SOUTHLAND ... 30.140 1.320 129.0 .289 77 3.410 11 142 368, 6th 7.0
Same month previous 8 years 29.916 50.8 ... .3536 13

• Altitude of Bealey, 2,104 feet; Queenstown, 1,070 feet. The stations marked thus * are furnished with Aneroid barometers only.

NOTES FOR APRIL, 1873.

Mongonui. Remarkably wet and unpleasant throughout; the rainfall was the largest ever recorded at this station for any
month; the maximum fall was registered on the 21st 7.28 inches for previous 24 hours, 5 inches of which fell between 2 and 4
p.m. on the 20th; wind N.E., strong N.E. and N.W. gales on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, with rain, and stormy on 17th, 22nd, and 23rd
from E., with heavy rain; prevailing wind for month from E.; thunder on 2nd, 14th, 27th, and 28th. Maximum temperature in
shade, 78°; minimum, 50°.2.

Auckland.--Stormy on 4th and 5th, and from 17th to 25th inclusive, with occasional thunder and heavy rain; 0.835 inch
of rain on 27th; fine pleasant weather from 7th to 17th; prevailing winds N.E. and S.E.

Taranaki. Fine weather generally, showers at commencement and end of month; maximum rain on 3rd, 0.73 inch; wind
prevailed from S.E., strong on 11th, 12th and 18th from that quarter. Maximum temperature, 75°; minimum, 44°.

Napier. Wet stormy weather, with occasional fine days; prevailing wind S. and S.W.; stormy from S.W. on 3rd and 4th,
and rain; on 25th heavy rain and very stormy from N.E.; maximum rain recorded on 26th, 2.27 inches. Maximum tempera-
ture, 73°; minimum, 42°.

Wellington. Remarkably fine bright mild weather prevailed, with light winds, chiefly from S.E., and cool at times; damp
dull wet day on 2nd from S.E., 1.3 inch recorded on the 3rd; strong S.W. wind on night of 3rd, with rain, very cold, barometer
fell nearly 1 inch; on 7th sudden squall of wind from S.E.; on 26th dull and wet, wind E. and fresh, very high tide and heavy
sea; fog on 25th, and frequently hazy in mornings. Maximum temperature in shade, 72°3; minimum, 43°5.

Wanganui.-Month commenced wet and stormy from N.W., but after the 3rd the weather was fine and dry almost to
end; easterly winds prevailed, and moderate; maximum fall of rain recorded on 4th, 0.70 inch. Maximum temperature, 75°;
minimum, 35°.

Nelson. Exceedingly fine weather during month, though heavy rain recorded on 3rd and 4th, 1.85 and 1.03 inch; winds
moderate, and prevailed from N.W.; strong breeze on 26th from S.E., with rain. Maximum temperature, 73°; minimum, 34°.

Christchurch.-Fine weather on the whole; small rainfall, maximum fall on 27th, 0.69 inch; prevailing easterly winds.
Maximum temperature in shade, 63°2; minimum, 30°6.

Bealey. Fine and pleasant throughout; rain far below average, maximum recorded on 26th, 580 inch; strong winds
from N.W. on 6th and 24th, otherwise very light during month, and prevailed from N.E.; four foggy days; frosty in mornings.
Maximum temperature, 68°; minimum, 26°.

Hokitika. Strong wind with rain on 6th and 7th, and squally and heavy rain at end of the month from S.E.; otherwise the
weather was remarkably fine, bright, and clear, with moderate winds prevailing from E.; maximum rain recorded on 25th, 1 inch
for 24 hours previous; thunder on 28th, and fog on 29th. Maximum temperature, 66°4; minimum, 36°9.

Dunedin. Changeable and unpleasant weather generally, with large rainfall, maximum occurring on 27th, 1.2 inch for pre-
vious 24 hours; stormy from S.W. on 3rd and 4th, with rain, otherwise winds moderate, frequent calms; foggy from 27th to
30th. Maximum temperature, 64°; minimum, 38°.

Queenstown. Extremely fine and pleasant weather throughout, very bright and clear, light frosts at night, and pleasant
warm sun during day; light winds from N.W., but nearly always calm; maximum rainfall on 26th, 0.31 inch for previous 24
hours. Maximum temperature, 67°2; minimum, 36°5.

Southland.-Rather showery in early and latter part of month, but otherwise was fine, dry, and warm; winds moderate,
and prevailed from N.W.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Unusual prevalence of easterly weather, accompanied by excessive rainfall in the North and on the East Coast, while the
rain was deficient on the West and among the Alps. Earthquakes reported at Wellington, on 1st, at 5 a.m., smart; 14th, slight;
17th, at 11 p.m., smart; Wanganui, on 5th, at 11.30 p.m., slight; Mana Lighthouse, on 1st, at 4 a.m., smart; and on 17th, at
11.30 p.m., slight; Kaiapoi, on 1st, at 3.35 a.m., slight.

Wellington, 15th May, 1873.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.