336
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of MARCH, 1874.

STATIONS.
MONGONUI
Same month previous 7 years
AUCKLAND
Same month previous 10 yrs.
TARANAKI
Same month previous 10 yrs.
NAPIER
Same month previous 7 years
WELLINGTON
Same month previous 10 yrs.
WANGANUI
Same month previous 2 years
NELSON
Same month previous 10 yrs.
CAPE CAMPBELL
CHRISTCHURCH
Same month previous 10 yrs.
BEALEY
Same month previous 6 years
HOKITIKA
Same month previous 8 years
DUNEDIN
Same month previous 10 yrs.
*QUEENSTOWN
Same month previous 2 years
SOUTHLAND
Same month previous 9 years

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

NOTES FOR MARCH, 1874.

Mongonui.-Fine during first week; rain and wind then for eight days from the N.E.; very strong winds from 11th to 15th;
afterwards fine, except on the 19th, when there was heavy rain, 2.13 inches falling in the night, the maximum for the
month; thunder on 8th; rainfall in excess; prevailing N. and S.E. winds. Maximum temperature in shade, 85°;
minimum, 55°.

Auckland.-Fine during the commencement and latter part of month, but from 8th to 15th very stormy and wet from N.E.; the
maximum rainfall occurred on 11th, 1.59 inch; prevailing S. and N.E. winds; thunder on 26th. Maximum temperature,
80.5°; minimum, 53.2°.

Taranaki.-Fine weather on the whole, but showery during middle of month, the maximum fall being recorded on 15th, 1.14
inch; very pleasant weather towards end of month; winds moderate, and prevailed from N.E., S.E., and S.W. Maximum
temperature, 79°; minimum, 45°.

Napier.-The early part fine, with N. winds; from 9th to end of month showery and unsettled; maximum fall of rain on 15th,
1.27 inch; thick fog on 24th; prevailing winds from N. Maximum temperature, 81°; minimum, 50°.

Wellington.-Rather unpleasant and showery weather up to middle of month; frequent rain and unsettled; on 7th strong
squalls of wind and rain, barometer down to 29.47°; heavy rain during night of 13th, 1.062 inch, the maximum fall for
month; remainder of month generally fine and pleasant, though at times showers; on 19th stormy from N.W.; prevailing
wind from S.E. Maximum temperature in shade, 73.9°; minimum, 45.3°.

Wanganui.-With the exception of a few light showers the weather continued fine throughout, with northerly winds of moderate
force, and occasional calms; very small rainfall, the maximum being 60 on 14th; on 27th and 28th, strong S.W. gale.
Maximum temperature, 81°; minimum, 42°.

Nelson.-Unsettled, with more than usual rain, the maximum recorded on 20th, 2.02 inches; a very strong N.W. gale on 7th,
abating towards evening, and stormy from S.W. on 19th; winds changeable and moderate. Maximum temperature, 80°;
minimum, 40°.

Cape Campbell.-High winds from S.E. and N.W., and cloudy throughout the month, though small rainfall, the maximum fall
recorded on 14th, 98 inch; on 8th, heavy N.W. gale, barometer fell from 30° to 29.1°, and at 6 p.m. wind shifted suddenly
to S.E., blowing hard, and barometer rose to 30-05°; fog on 4th and 14th. Maximum temperature, 80.5°; minimum, 49°.

Christchurch.-Showers during middle of month, but otherwise fine and pleasant; the maximum rainfall recorded on 8th, 1.29
inch; prevailing winds, S.W.; no storms. Maximum temperature, 88°; minimum, 39.6°.

Bealey.-Fine warm pleasant weather generally, with a few frosty mornings; heavy fall of rain registered on 8th, 3.5 inches;
prevailing N.W. winds, and at times rather strong. Maximum temperature, 73°; minimum, 32°.

Hokitika.-Showery weather generally, but fine and pleasant at times; very heavy rainfall on 7th, 3.50 inches recorded on
8th, wind N.; winds, generally light, prevailed from N. and N.E. Maximum temperature, 73.1°; minimum, 42.3°.

Dunedin.-Fine and dry early part until 7th, after which it was usually showery, dull, and unpleasant; maximum rainfall
occurred on 6th, 1.222 inch; winds variable and moderate; fog on 16th; lightning on evening of 19th. Maximum
temperature, 75°; minimum, 36°.

Queenstown.-Fine weather generally, with prevailing N.W. winds and moderate; maximum rainfall recorded on 7th, 1.26 inch;
sudden violent S.W. squall on 7th, with snow and thunder; fog on 24th. Maximum temperature, 74.1°; minimum, 34°.

Southland.-Showery and generally unpleasant weather, with prevailing S.W. winds, but moderate, except on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th,
when it blew strong from that quarter; heavy rain on 20th, 1.05 inch recorded, and also thunder. Maximum temperature, 73°;
minimum, 32°.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The weather has been wet throughout, at the same time very mild and temperate for the time of year, and no gales of any
violence have occurred. Earthquakes are reported as having been felt at the following places:-At Wellington and Masterton,
on 1st, at 12.10 p.m., slight, and at the former place on 17th, at 11.30 a.m., slight; at Wanganui, on 4th, at midnight, and on
9th, same time, sharp; at Tarawera, on 7th at 10.27 a.m., slight; at Taranaki, on 9th, at midnight, slight; Foxton and Patea,
on 9th, at midnight, slight, also at Foxton, slight shock at night of 11th; at Christchurch, Lyttelton, and Akaroa, on 25th, at
12.3 a.m., a prolonged shake. Meteors observed at Dunedin on 13th, and at Queenstown on 21st.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.