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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

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

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

NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1873.

Mongonui.—Rather fine weather for time of year; total rain below the average, but showery at times; maximum fall recorded on
7th, 76 inch; gale from E. on 6th, with rain; strong westerly wind on 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th, only slight rain; northerly
gale on 22nd, with rain; thunder on 13th and 15th; hail on 16th, and fog on 18th; prevailing wind S.W. Maximum
temperature in shade, 71°; minimum, 37°.

Auckland.—Wet, stormy weather generally; a stiff N.E. gale on 7th and 8th, with 867 inch of rain on 8th; a severe westerly
gale on 15th, 16th, and 17th, the horizontal movement of the wind being 1,505 miles for the three days, with rain and
thunder on 15th; stiff S.W. gale on 26th, and again it blew from same quarter with violence on 28th and 29th. A few
pleasant days occurred free from rain. Prevailing winds N.E. in early part of month, and S.W. in the latter. Maximum
temperature, 64.8°; minimum, 37.5°.

Taranaki.—Very wet, unpleasant weather; winds changeable, and at time strong; thunder on 1st, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and
22nd; hail on 16th and 17th; fog on 22nd and 23rd; maximum rain recorded on 8th, 1.25 inch. Maximum temperature,
65°; minimum, 35°.

Napier.—Fine on the whole; occasional showers in evenings and during nights; winds prevailed from N.E., at times stormy; maxi-
mum rainfall on 19th, 91 inch. Maximum temperature, 71°; minimum, 37°.

Wellington.—Unusually wet, squally, unpleasant weather throughout; almost constant rain, though no very heavy falls; 1 inch
recorded on 24th, being the maximum; on 1st and 2nd strong S.E. and S.W. wind, with rain and hail; on 5th strong N.W.
dry wind; 9th, cold strong S.E. wind, changing to S.W., and hail, sleet, and rain; sudden squall on 25th from S.W., with
heavy rain and hail; on the 27th stormy from N.W., chopped round at night to S.W., and brought hail, rain, and cold strong
wind; very stormy from N.W. all day of 29th, and continued during night, with rain; prevailing wind from N.W.; thunder
on 16th and 17th. Maximum temperature in shade, 63°; minimum, 37.3°.

Wanganui.—Very wet and squally weather; wind prevailed from N.W.; maximum rainfall on 2nd, 70 inch for previous twenty-
four hours; barometer fell on 15th, and heavy N.W. gale on 16th, lasting twenty-four hours, with thunder, lightning, and
rain; seven days of thunder, and at times severe. Maximum temperature, 73°; minimum, 33°.

Nelson.—Unusually wet month; maximum fall on 7th, 2.12 inches; winds generally westerly, very strong on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th;
frequent squalls from S.W. Maximum temperature, 68°; minimum, 29° in shade.

Christchurch.—Very showery month, but total fall of rain not high; winds prevailed from S.W., and generally moderate; on 28th
a gale from S.W., with thunder; thunder also on 27th and 28th. Maximum temperature, 62°; minimum, 30.9° in shade.

*Bealey.—Wet and unpleasant, only an occasional fine day; winds prevailed from N.W., and frequently very strong; maximum
rain on 30th, 2 inches; five days of snow; fog on 3rd. Maximum temperature, 56.6°; minimum, 27.3° in shade.

Hokitika.—Very wet, stormy weather; wind N.E. and E. generally; frequent storms; barometer fell to 29.05° on 15th during gale;
thunder on 1st, 16th, and 30th; maximum rainfall on 27th, 2.60 inches. Maximum temperature, 59.3°; minimum, 31°.

Dunedin.—Very wet, unpleasant weather; wind changeable; strong from W. on 28th and 29th, without rain; snow and hail
on 1st; maximum rainfall on 12th, 1.114 inch. Maximum temperature, 61°; minimum 33°.

*Queenstown.—Very wet month; maximum recorded on 30th, 1.47 inch; winds moderate generally and somewhat changeable,
though prevailing from N.W.; strong S.W. wind, with rain, on 27th, and on 29th stormy from S.E., with rain; snow on
10th, 11th, and 29th. Maximum temperature, 61.7°; minimum, 32.2° in shade.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The weather throughout was excessively wet and stormy. Westerly winds prevailed, and at some stations violent gales
occurred, accompanied with severe thunder, heavy rain, and hail. In the extreme south, although the rain was excessive, yet
the wind was not so strong. Earthquakes were reported at Wanganui on 11th, at 1.49 p.m., smart; on 21st, at 2.45 p.m., slight;
at Tarawera, on 18th, at 10.23 p.m., smart.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.

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