THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 615

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

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

NOTES FOR JULY, 1874.

Mongonui.—Rather a fine month for time of year; maximum rainfall recorded on 8th, 0.88 inch; high winds on 7th from
N. and on 21st from S., with rain; on latter date hail and thunder; thunder also on 11th and 15th; prevailing winds
S.W., and generally moderate. Maximum temperature in shade, 65°; minimum, 35°.

Auckland.—Very showery, but total rain rather under average; maximum fall registered on 7th, 0.555 inch; wind prevailed
from S; strong squalls on 12th and 20th from S.W.; thunder on 15th. Maximum temperature, 64-6°; minimum, 35°.

Taranaki.—Cold, wet weather, with a few fine bright frosty days; greatest rainfall recorded on 15th, 1.86 inch; southerly
winds prevailed and moderate, except on 11th and 14th, when it blew strong from that quarter, accompanied by thunder and.
hail on 14th. Maximum temperature, 64°; minimum, 30°.

Napier.—Changeable weather, though fine at times; cold, and occasionally frosty nights; maximum rain on 12th and 15th,
0.29 inch; prevailing southerly winds, no strong gales. Maximum temperature, 68°; minimum, 31°.

Wellington.—Very wet, cold, and severe weather during this month, with only a few bright days; very stormy at times,
especially on 6th, 10th, and 11th, from N.W. with rain; on 15th, S.E., and 16th and 17th from S.W., with rain and
hail; and on 21st and 22nd from S.W., with slight rain; foggy on 4th and 31st; prevailing N.W. and S.E. winds; maximum
rainfall on 16th, 1.50 inch for previous 24 hours. Maximum temperature, 58°; minimum, 33°.

Wanganui.—Raw and cold with frequent rain and stiff breezes, generally from W.; on 11th and 12th heavy rain, causing fresh
in river, 1-32 inch recorded on 12th; and on 14th there was a heavy westerly gale; snow on 20th, fog on 30th. Maximum
temperature, 59°; minimum, 32°.

Nelson.—Showery weather, but less total rain than usual, very light winds prevailing from S.E. and E.; greatest rainfall
recorded on 1st for previous 24 hours, 1.36, and 1.08 inch registered on 7th; cold weather generally. Maximum
temperature, 60°; minimum, 25° in shade.

Cape Campbell.—Strong S. and S.E. winds prevailed, often reaching to a gale; rainfall small, the maximum recorded on 15th,
1.85 inch. Maximum temperature, 62.6°; minimum, 37°.

Christchurch.—Showery throughout and cold, but very slight total rainfall for time of year; winds moderate, and chiefly from
S.W.; snow on 20th, 21st, and 24th, occasionally fine days but dull; maximum rainfall on 21st, 0-35 inch. Maximum
temperature, 62°; minimum, 26-1° in shade.

Bealey.—Showery unpleasant weather, with occasional fine days, very cold and severe; small rainfall on the whole, the maximum
occurred on 6th, 2.35 inches for previous 24 hours; wind changeable and light, but strong gale on 6th from N. W. with thunder;
thunder also on 10th; snow fell on 8 days; fog on 7 days. Maximum temperature, 50.4°; minimum, 23.7° in shade.

Hokitika.—Showery and cold weather generally, though rainfall below the average, the maximum recorded on 6th, 3.10 inches;
prevailing E. and N.E. winds, and generally moderate; on 6th and 7th heavy squalls from N.E., with rain and thunder on
6th; on 10th short gale from N. with rain, and on 20th heavy rain and wind from W. to S.E.; fog on 2nd; fine weather at
times though very cold. Maximum temperature, 61.7°; minimum, 26.9°.

Dunedin.—Weather changeable, very severe from 15th to 21st, with heavy falls of snow, and towards end of month it was
extremely fine, with light winds; small rainfall, the maximum recorded on 21st, 0.42 inch; hail on 20th. Maximum temper-
ature, 60°; minimum, 30°.

Queenstown.—Very severe during month; snow fell on 2nd, 13th, 15th, and very heavy on 19th, 20th, and 21st; heavy rain, the
maximum fall recorded on 10th, 1.78 inch, and on 11th, 1.09 inch; thunder on 10th; winds prevailed from N.W., and
generally light; hard frosts frequent.

Southland.—Showery, cold, severe and frequent frosts; snow and hail on 20th and 21st; thunder on 19th and 20th;
maximum rain recorded on 21st, 94 inch; prevailing N.E. and E. winds, and moderate. Maximum temperature, 62°;
minimum, 17° in shade.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Except at some of the Stations in the North, the rainfall is generally under the average for previous years, and with one or
two exceptions the winds have been moderate; the temperature, however, has been considerably below the average throughout,
and high atmospheric pressure prevailed; frequent snow and hail storms occurred, and frosts, causing the weather to be unusually
severe. Earthquakes were reported at Opunake on 4th, at 9.35 p.m., sharp, preceded by loud rumbling; on 28th at
Wanganui, 4.37 p.m., sharp shock, direction N.E. to S.W., 20 seconds duration; and at Opunake on same date a slight shock
at 4.35 p.m., direction N. to S. Aurora visible in South on 25th.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.