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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

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

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

NOTES FOR AUGUST, 1873.

Mongonui. Rather squally and unpleasant weather; prevailing westerly winds; rainfall below the average; maximum on 27th,
1.34 inch; occasionally fine.

Auckland. Unpleasant weather generally, but a few fine but cloudy days; no heavy falls of rain, but very frequent; maximum
on 27th, 850 inch for previous 24 hours; a severe S.W. gale on the 23rd; a short but violent squall on 27th from N.N.W.;
thunder on evening of 12th; prevailing easterly wind. Maximum temperature in shade, 63.4°; minimum, 38.5°.

Taranaki. Very wet month, rain almost incessant, the maximum occurring on 13th, 2.43 inches for previous 24 hours; N.W.
gale on 10th, with rain; otherwise winds moderate and prevailed from N.E.; thunder on 28th. Maximum temperature, 65°;
minimum, 34°.

Napier. Wet, cold weather, with occasional fine days; prevailing wind S.W.; maximum rainfall on 11th, 94 inch; also strong
S.W. wind recorded on this date. Maximum temperature, 69°; minimum, 33°.

Wellington. Tolerably fine up to the 8th, though showery at times, and cold wind, chiefly N.W.; on the 9th barometer
commenced to fall rapidly, at night thick rain and wind, freshening from N.W., mild; continued heavy rain on 10th and
strong wind; at 7 p.m. changed to S.E. and then to S.W.; barometer rose slightly, rain all night and strong cold wind;
heavy floods, doing much damage; 3.6 inches recorded on 11th; on 11th hail, sleet, and showery; also rain on 12th, and very
cold from S.W.; changed to S.E. on 13th, and finer; showery up to 20th, wind N.W. and S.E.; very fine bright weather on
21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, and mild; changed on 25th from N.W. to S.E., and brought strong wind and heavy rain, 1.5
inch recorded on 26th; showery and very stormy for remainder of month, principally from N.W.; lightning on 18th.
Maximum temperature in shade, 62°; minimum, 33.3°.

Wanganui. Tolerably fine early part of month, but latter part showery and unpleasant; heavy gale from N.W., with rain, from
10th to 12th; also stormy on 19th; prevailing wind N.W.; maximum rainfall on 11th, 1.25 inch. Maximum
temperature, 65°; minimum, 32° in shade.

Nelson. Very heavy rainfall, although only occurring on 9 days; on 26th 3.52 inches, and on 10th 4.92 inches, were recorded for
previous 24 hours, with strong N.W. wind; wind prevailed from S.E. Maximum temperature, 65°; minimum, 31°.

Christchurch. Seasonable weather; rainfall about the average; maximum occurring on 28th, 1.25 inch for previous 24 hours;
prevailing S.W. winds, and generally moderate; strong N.W. gale on 30th and 31st, without rain; foggy on 2nd and 3rd.
Maximum temperature, 66°; minimum, 27.5°.

Bealey. Cold, wet, unpleasant weather; N.W. gales, with heavy rain and thunder storms, on 17th and 30th; maximum rain
recorded on 30th, 3.10 inches; snow on 11th, 12th, and 25th; hail on 31st; 17 days of N.W. wind. Maximum
temperature, 53°; minimum, 20° in shade.

Hokitika. Tolerably fine for time of year; maximum rainfall on 18th, 1.90 inch; prevailing easterly winds; stormy on 30th
and 31st from N.W., with rain. Maximum temperature, 61.8°; minimum, 60.3°

Dunedin. Fine commencement of month, but remainder very showery; maximum rainfall on 28th, 1.918 inch; winds change-
able and moderate; snow on 12th. Maximum temperature, 63°; minimum, 30°.

Queenstown. Seasonable weather, though good deal of rain, and light changeable winds; maximum rain recorded on 30th,
1.45 inch, and thunder storm on that date; snow on 10th, 30th, and 31st. Maximum temperature, 61°; minimum, 25.8°.

Southland. Fine, cold weather, with small rainfall; the maximum on 5th, 83 inch; prevailing W. winds and moderate;
strong E. wind on 27th and 28th, no rain; thunder on 31st; snow and hail on 11th and 12th.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The weather on the whole was mild throughout for the time of year, but the rainfall was in excess, and occasionally it was
stormy and severe. Winds prevailed from westward. Very high atmospheric pressure beginning of month, reaching to 30.54
inches, and about the 18th it fell to 29.2, when the weather was wet and squally throughout. Earthquakes reported at Bealey
on 24th at 1:47 a.m., slight; and at Foxton, White's Bay, Wanganui, Wellington, and Nelson on 29th, at about 1.20 p.m., at
the three first places smart, but at the two last only slightly felt. Aurora observed in South on 16th.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.

Wellington, August, 1873.

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