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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

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

MONGONUI
Same month previous 7 years

AUCKLAND
Same month previous 9 years

TARANAKI
Same month previous 9 years

NAPIER
Same month previous 6 years

WELLINGTON
Same month previous 9 years

*WANGANUI
Same month previous year

NELSON
Same month previous 9 years

CHRISTCHURCH
Same month previous 9 years

*BEALEY
Same month previous 5 years

HOKITIKA
Same month previous 7 years

DUNEDIN
Same month previous 9 years

*QUEENSTOWN
Same month previous year

SOUTHLAND
Same month previous 8 years

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

NOTES FOR MAY, 1873.

Mongonui.—Showery in beginning of month, 2.28 inches recorded on 7th, N.E. wind and light; fine bright weather with pre-
vailing S.W. wind until end, when it was showery from N.W. Maximum temperature in shade, 75°; minimum, 42°.

Auckland.—Generally pleasant, although often cloudy and threatening; heavy rain with thunder on 2nd, for short time, 0.52
inch recorded, the maximum for month; heavy shower on 18th, with violent squalls from S.W.; prevailing winds, S.E.
and S.W. Maximum temperature in shade, 68°7; minimum, 40°3.

Taranaki.—Tolerably fine for time of year, light showers; heavy squalls about middle of month from N.W. and S.W., and rain;
heavy storm of hail and thunder on 31st from S.W.; maximum rain recorded on 28th, 1.650 inch; prevailing wind from
S.W. Maximum temperature in shade, 74°; minimum, 35°.

Napier.—Generally fine throughout and cold; westerly winds prevailed; very stormy on 18th from N.W., no rain; maximum
fall of rain, 0.34 inch on 8th. Maximum temperature in shade, 74°; minimum, 38°.

Wellington.—Very pleasant during early part of month and mild, with moderate winds; from 13th to end frequent storms
occurred from N.W., accompanied at times with beating rain; very severe squall on evening of 17th, with heavy rain, low
barometer; fog on 10th; small total rainfall, maximum recorded on 21st, 0.70 inch; prevailing wind, N.W. Maximum
temperature in shade, 68°; minimum, 36°.

Wanganui.—Early part gloomy weather with light showers, moderate N.W. wind; towards middle of month, wet, cold and
squally, wind westerly, then fine till 27th, when rain set in to end of month; heavy fall of hail on 30th, with rain; maxi-
mum rain recorded on 30th, 0.98 inch; prevailing wind, N.W. Maximum temperature in shade, 72°; minimum, 32°.

Nelson.—Exceedingly fine, no gales in Nelson though heavy weather in Straits; maximum rainfall on 2nd, 1.80 inch; pre-
vailing wind, S.W. Maximum temperature in shade, 69°; minimum, 31°.

Christchurch.—Occasional showers, but on the whole fine weather; maximum rainfall recorded on 7th, 1'31 inch; prevailing wind
from N.E. and moderate; strong S.W. gale on 23rd; snow on 29th and 30th; fog on four days. Maximum temperature in
shade, 68°; minimum, 29°8.

Bealey.—Dull, cold and showery generally; maximum rain recorded on 27th, 2.1 inches; prevailing wind from N.W., very
strong on 12th, 13th, 14th, 17th, and 26th, with rain; thunder storms on 15th and 20th; snow on 29th; seven days of fog.
Maximum temperature in shade, 58°2; minimum, 25°0.

Hokitika.—Occasionally fine days, but generally stormy, showery and severe weather; maximum rain registered on 27th, 1.5
inches; prevailing wind from E.; stormy on 11th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 27th, and 29th, from E., with thunder on each day
except 14th. Maximum temperature in shade, 67°9; minimum, 30°.

Dunedin.—Generally showery, though no heavy falls of rain,—maximum recorded on 11th, 0.508 inch; prevailing wind from
N.E.; stormy on 23rd from S.W. and thunder; lightning on 29th; snow fell on 29th; latter part of month cold and frosty.
Maximum temperature in shade, 63°; minimum, 32°.

Queenstown.—Very changeable, and heavy rain at times—maximum recorded on 27th, 3.25 inches, from S.W.; seven days of
snow; winds rather moderate, and prevailed from N.W. Maximum temperature, 61°4; minimum, 26°.

Southland.—Fine early part, middle and end of month wet and stormy, with S.W. and N.W. winds; stormy on 24th and 28th,
S.W. wind with rain; maximum rain on 18th, 0.63 inch; thunder on 19th, 29th, and 31st; snow on 28th, 29th, and 30th;
hail on 12th, 24th, and 30th.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Mild weather throughout for time of year; temperature above and rainfall below the average for previous years; prevailing
westerly winds. In the South stormy at times, with snow, hail, and thunder. Earthquakes occurred at Wanganui on 17th and
19th, slight.

Wellington, 17th June, 1873.
JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.