460
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

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

STATIONS,
BAROMETER.
Corrected and
Reduced to Sea
Level.
TEMPERATURE FROM SELF-REGISTERING
INSTRUMENTS, READ IN MORNING
FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS PREVIOUSLY.
COMPUTED
FROM
OBSERVATIONS,
RAIN.
WIND.
CLOUD.

Mean
Reading
Mean Extr'me
Range.
Mean
Temp.
in
Shade.
Mean
Daily
Temp.
Extr'me
Range
of
Temp.
Max.
Temp.
in Sun's
Rays.
Min.
Temp.
on
Grass.
Mean
Elastic
Moist,
Vapour.
Mean
Deg. of
Ration
(Satu-
Month
=100.)
Total
Fall
in
(inches)
No. of
Days
on
which
Rain
fell.
Average
Daily
Force
in Miles
for
Month.
Maximum
Velocity
in Miles
and Date.
Mean
Amount
(0to10).

MONGONUI ... 29.954 877 62.2 14.0 28.0 136.0 ... 427 77 5.340 15 160 555, 31st 5.4
Same month previous7 years 30.020 57.9 411 81 5.234 16
AUCKLAND ... 29.970 997 57.8 15.3 33.9 118.7 15.5 379 85 3.585 14 303 731,12th 6.0
Same month previous 10 yrs. 29.965 57.0 ... 380 82 3.600 18
TARANAKI ... 29.989 1.075 55.3 16.9 34.0 143.0 329 77 4.240 10 245 665,13th 5.0
Same month previous 10 yrs. 29.970 54.7 ... 340 77 7.250 19
NAPIER ... 30.024 1.122 53.7 14.6 27.0 116.0 343 83 10.740 21
Same month previous years 29.908 54.0 ... 350 74 1.630 7
WELLINGTON 30.027 1.184 51.6 10.0 25.7 110.0 23.0 322 84 3.710 19 219 500, 18th 6.0
Same month previous10 yrs. 29.913 53.1 ... 292 73 3.984 13 185 360,26th 5.0
WANGANUI ... 30.050 1.250 51.6 20.8 38.0 129.0 30.0 295 77 2.230 12 185 360,26th 5.0
Same month previous 2 years 30.085 54.4 ... 317 71 4.895 13 81 237, 18th 4.6
NELSON 29.968 1.118 50.2 19.6 31.0 125.0 280 78 5.920 8
Same month previousl0yrs. 29.900 51.0 ... 320 78 6.270 8
CAPE CAMPBELL 30:080 1.050 53.6 10-9 25-6 335 83 620 8 484 972, 12th 6.6.
CHRISTCHURCH 30-049 1.405 46.1 128 33.7 111·0 16-2 267 87 1.540 12 100 252,26th 6.0
Same month previousl0yrs. 29-910 47.9 ... 285 82 2.173 8
BEALEY 30-100 1.200 40.9 16-3 33.6 2.0 214 81 4.760 10 89 238, 7th 5.6
Same month previous 6 years 29-844 43.0 ... 231 83 9.541 14
HOKITIKA 30.000 1-189 49.7 16-1 28.2 82.4 21.2 309 87 6.940 12 6.0
Same month previous8years 29-996 49.5 ... 326 89 9.200 16
DUNEDIN 29-852 1-266 45.0 9-9 21.0 100.0 28-0 258 86 1-588 10 157 570,29th 4.6
Same month previous 10 yrs. 29-904 47.4 ... 249 78 3-972 15
*QUEENSTOWN 30-170 1.000 44.3 15.0 28-1 92-2 28-1 205 71 1-170 6 136 227, 7th 3.9
Same month previous 2 years 29-980 47-1 ... 233 73 5-735 14
SOUTHLAND 29-970 1.350 118-0 1.990 12 117 392,27th 6.0
Same month previous 9 years 29-820 46-3 ... 255 81 5-120 18

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

NOTES FOR MAY, 1874.
Mongonui.—Unsettled weather generally; maximum rainfall on 17th, 1.32 inch for previous twenty-four hours; prevailing S.W.
wind and stormy during latter part of month, especially on 30th; thunder on 15th, 17th, 25th, and 26th; hail on 23rd,
and fog on 18th, 20th and 22nd; high mean temperature for time of year. Maximum temperature in shade, 75°;
minimum, 47°.

Auckland.—Fine generally during early part, but very showery towards end of month, and strong winds prevailing, often
reaching a gale from S.E.; maximum fall of rain on 25th, 0.67 inch; thunder on 24th and 25th, also hail. Maximum:
temperature, 73.3°; minimum, 39.4°.

Taranaki.—Fine weather for the season; maximum fall of rain recorded on 24th, 83 inch; stormy weather at times, especially
strong wind on 2nd, 3rd, 12th, and 13th, from S.E., from which quarter it prevailed; thunder on 15th and 23rd; a
severe hail storm on 24th, large size stones. Maximum temperature, 73°; minimum, 39°.

Napier.—Very wet month, rainfall far above the average; maximum fall recorded on 19th, 3.04 inches; very stormy and wet
on 17th, 18th, and 19th from N.E.; prevailing wind from South. Maximum temperature, 66°; minimum, 39°.

Wellington.—Cold, wet and unpleasant weather during this month, with only a few bright days; very stormy at times,
especially on 10th, 11th, 12th, and 17th, from S.E., with rain; and 23rd and 24th from N. W., with rain; thunder on
24th during a very heavy shower, low barometer; cleared off during 25th, but at night sudden change to S.E., and very
cold, with wind and rain; fog on 14th; the maximum rainfall recorded on 11th, 610 inch; prevailing winds, N.W. and
S.E. Maximum temperature in shade, 63°; minimum, 37.3°.

Wanganui.—Set in fine and continued so until 11th and 12th, when light showers fell, weather then broke and continued wet
and disagreeable until 26th, when it cleared up and was followed by cold clear weather until 31st, when rain again fell;
maximum rainfall recorded on 25th, 50 inch; winds generally moderate, and prevailed from S.W.; a very heavy hail
storm occurred on 24th, accompanied by thunder and lightning, very large size stones, -inch in diameter-several pieces of
jagged ice fell of good size; storm continued twenty minutes, and appeared to follow course of river, as it was not felt far
from its banks. Maximum temperature for month, 68°; minimum, 30°.

Nelson.—First part of month exceedingly fine, with high barometer and light southerly winds; the latter part more unsettled,
with some heavy falls of rain; the maximum recorded on 24th, 2.95 inches; strong S.E. wind on 17th, 18th, and 19th, from
which quarter it prevailed. Maximum temperature, 66°; minimum, 35°.

Cape Campbell.—Very little rain during the month; the maximum fall being only 23 on the 11th, but very stormy weather
from S. and S.E., was experienced almost throughout, and cloudy. Maximum temperature, 69.6°; minimum, 44°.

Christchurch.—Generally fine, with occasional light showers; the maximum fall registered on 26th, 69 inch; wind light and
prevailed from S.W. Maximum temperature, 64°; minimum, 30.3°.

Bealey.—Fine pleasant weather; sharp frosts in beginning and middle of month; heavy rain recorded on 24th, 2.260 inches,
otherwise moderate; strong N.W. winds on 7th and 27th, but generally light, and prevailed from this quarter; thunder on
23rd, snow on 25th, and føg on five days. Maximum temperature, 57.0°; minimum, 23.4° in shade.

Hokitika.—Fine weather, with moderate N.E. and E. winds; at times showery, especially towards latter part of month; a
heavy fall recorded on 24th, 2.40 inches; thunder also on 24th. Maximum temperature, 61.5°; minimum, 33.3°.

Dunedin.—Cold, damp, and dull during early part and end of month, but from 10th to 24th, it was very fine and bright; maximum
rain recorded on 26th, 0.464 inch; squally and wet, from 25th to 28th, from S.W.; wind generally from N.E., frequently
calm. Maximum temperature, 55°; minimum, 34°.

Queenstown.—Very fine and pleasant weather, with occasional showers; moderate winds prevailing from N.W.; greatest fall of
rain on 17th, 46 inch; snow on four days. Maximum temperature, 59°; minimum, 30.9° in shade.

Southland.—Generally fine at this station.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The weather generally has been fine for the time of year, although some strong S.E. gales were felt in the North; the
rainfall is below the average, especially on the West Coast, the weather there being unusually fine; the temperature is rather
low. The barometer fell as low as 28.998 on 24th, on which date a severe hail, rain, and thunder storm occurred at many of the
stations.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.

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