30

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of OCTOBER, 1873.

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

NOTES FOR OCTOBER, 1873.

Mongonui. - Very wet and unsettled up to the 17th, with westerly winds; stormy on 6th, 8th, 9th, and 15th, and frequent
thunder; fine from 17th to 27th; remainder of the month wet; hail on 2nd, 3rd, and 16th; maximum rainfall recorded
on 6th, 1.36 inch for previous twenty-four hours; prevailing westerly winds. Maximum temperature in shade, 78°;
minimum, 43°.

Auckland. - Broken weather, with heavy rain, from 1st to 11th; S.W. gale on 2nd and 3rd, with much rain; gale from N.E.
on 6th, with 900 inch of rain, the maximum fall for month; light, pleasant, warm weather from 12th to 27th; fierce gale
from N.E. on 27th, changing to N.W. on 29th and 30th, with heavy driving rain; 625 miles of wind registered on 30th;
low barometer throughout the month; changeable winds. Maximum temperature, 73.3°; minimum, 41.3°.

Taranaki.-Showery during early and latter part of month, but on the whole pleasant weather, and moderate winds prevailing
from westward; squally on 1st and 2nd, S.W., with rain and thunder and hail on 2nd; maximum rain occurred on 1st,
.89 inch. Maximum temperature, 75°; minimum, 38°.

Napier. - Wet and disagreeable generally, with an occasional fine day; sudden changes in temperature; wind prevailed from
N.E.; on 1st strong from N.W., and on 29th from N., with rain; maximum rain on 10th, 1.31 inch. Maximum
temperature, 76°; minimum, 36°.

Wellington. - Frequently fine bright clear weather during the month, but wind at times very strong from N.W., especially on
13th, 23rd, 24th, and 27th, unaccompanied by rain, except a slight shower on the 24th; rainfall rather above the average,
the maximum occurring on the 8th, 1.38 inch for previous twenty-four hours; on the 28th barometer commenced to fall
rapidly, N.E. wind, very oppressive, very heavy rain in afternoon, and at night wind N.W.; continued rain on 29th, wind
changing to S.E. and colder, barometer fell to 29.03; rose on 30th, and brought fine bright weather, cool breeze; hail
occurred on the 2nd; earthquake reported on the 15th, at midnight. Maximum temperature in shade, 74°; minimum, 36°.

Wanganui. - Set in wet and stormy from N.W., and continued for ten days, after which it held fine until the close, when the
barometer fell to 29.1°, and sky overcast and threatening, but storm did not reach this station; from heavy sea it
appeared to have raged with violence to the northward; prevailing N.W. wind, and maximum rain occurred on 1st, .66 inch.
Maximum temperature, 77°; minimum, 36°.

Nelson. - Generally fine pleasant weather, with moderate wind, very hot at times; showers in beginning and latter part of month;
maximum fall recorded on 29th, 1.76 inch; a westerly gale on 27th, and heavy rain on night of 28th; barometer 28.95° on 29th,
and rain, but light wind; prevailing westerly winds. Maximum temperature, 74°; minimum, 32°.

Christchurch. - Showery at commencement and end of month, but on the whole very fine weather prevailed, with light wind,
chiefly from N.E., S.W., and N.W.; maximum rainfall on 8th, .44 inch; S.W. gale during night of 29th, but only slight
rain; snow fell on 2nd, and sleet on 3rd; some very cold nights. Maximum temperature, 83°; minimum, 32.5° in shade.

Bealey. - Showery up to 9th; wind N.W. and N.E., and strong on 4th; remainder of month tolerably fine, at times showers;
maximum rainfall recorded on 25th, .620 inch; wind prevailed from N.E. and N.W.; snow fell on 1st and 2nd; hail on
2nd. Maximum temperature in shade, 72°; minimum, 14.8°.

Hokitika.--Fine for time of year; rainfall below average, though frequently showery; maximum fall recorded on 1st, 1.06 inch;
winds prevailed from N. and S.W.; heavy squalls of wind on night of 1st, S.W., with rain; on 14th strong N.W. wind
and rain; on 25th strong squalls from N.W., with rain, and on 31st stiff S.W. breeze, no rain; thunder on 2nd, fog on 17th.
Maximum temperature, 65.7°; minimum, 32.9° in shade.

Dunedin. - Frequent showers, but no heavy falls of rain, the maximum on 20th, .73 inch; winds changeable; strong from S.W.
on 2nd, with rain; snow on 3rd, hail on 2nd, and fog on 6th; low barometer generally. Maximum temperature, 75°;
minimum, 33°.

Queenstown. - Changeable, but on the whole fine spring weather; frequent showers occurred, succeeded by warm pleasant days;
maximum fall recorded on 29th, .44 inch; winds prevailed from N.W.; strong N.W. wind on 13th, and rain; and on 29th
stormy, from S.E., and cold; snow on 2nd and 3rd, hail on 2nd. Maximum temperature, 69.5°; minimum, 33.6°.

Southland. - Fine, but very windy, especially between 19th and end of month; westerly, on 24th it blew violently from S.W.,
without rain; maximum rainfall recorded on 14th, .47 inch; wind prevailed from S.W. and N.W.; thunder on 22nd; hail
on 2nd. Maximum temperature, 73°; minimum, 26° in the shade.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Occasionally stormy rough weather, but on the whole seasonable. In the North rain was in excess, and in the South
considerably less than the average. The atmospheric pressure low throughout, and temperature about the average.
Earthquakes reported: At Wanganui, 18th, 4 a.m., slight; Nelson, 18th, 2.20 a.m., smart; Patea, 18th, between 2 and 4 a.m.,
sharp; Akaroa, 11.30 a.m., 23rd, slight.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.

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