676
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

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

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

NOTES FOR AUGUST, 1874.

Mongonui.—Very unsettled weather; large rainfall; the maximum recorded on 24th, 2·90 inches; prevailing winds from N.E. and N.W., strong on 2nd, 4th, and 24th; frequent squalls; nine days of thunder; hail on 31st; fog on 17th and 18th. Maximum temperature in shade, 71°; minimum, 42°.

Auckland.—Squally, wet, and unpleasant weather; frequently stormy, wind changeable; on 3rd stormy from N.W. to W., with rain all day, barometer down to 29·05°, rose shortly, wind shifting South; heavy rainfall recorded on 31st, 1·65 inch in a few hours; thunder on 3rd, 27th, and 31st; hail on 9th; fog on 19th. Maximum temperature, 63·3°; minimum, 38°.

Taranaki.—Wet and squally, and frequent storms, chiefly from E.; thunder on 6th and 17th. Maximum rain on 6th, 1·56 inch; fog on 25th. Maximum temperature, 65°; minimum, 37°.

Napier.—Tolerably fine; rain below average, though many showery days; maximum fall occurring on 4th, 0·78 inch; winds moderate, and prevailing from S.W. and N.W. Maximum temperature, 68°; minimum, 33°.

Wellington.—Showery unpleasant weather on the whole, though occasionally fine bright days; winds generally N.W. and S.E. and moderate, but on night of 2nd it came on to blow from S.E., barometer falling, and rained heavily, 1·16 inch recorded on 3rd, the maximum for the month; storm continued on 3rd, with rain and hail; on 19th, strong N.W. wind with rain; and on 25th and 26th stormy from same quarter, with rain; a very heavy shower on afternoon of 26th, with thunder and lightning, but of short duration; thick fog on morning of 23rd, but cleared off, and splendid day. The maximum temperature in shade, 62·5°; minimum, 33·5°.

Wanganui.—Set in wet and stormy, and continued so until 10th, when the weather became clear and frosty; rain again commenced on 17th, and, with short intervals, continued to the end of month; prevailing N.W. winds; maximum rain recorded on 27th, 0·81 inch; low barometer on 3rd, 29·15°, when gales blew up the coast, but did not reach the town. Maximum temperature, 67°; minimum, 29°.

Nelson.—Boisterous weather, with prevailing easterly winds; rainfall greatly in excess, though only falling on ten days, the maximum having been recorded on 25th, 3·83 inches in the twenty-four hours. Maximum temperature, 70°; minimum temperature, 30°.

Cape Campbell.—Cold, showery weather, though small total rainfall, the maximum only 0·23 inch on 30th; strong winds prevailing from N.W.

Christchurch.—Fine weather, with little rain, and moderate wind from N.E.; very strong on 25th; maximum rainfall recorded on 3rd, 0·48 inch; a very severe thunder storm occurred on 29th, causing considerable damage, wind S.W. Maximum temperature, 63°; minimum, 28·5°.

Bealey.—Very cold and severe; bright frosty weather in former and wet during the latter part of month; maximum rain recorded on 27th, 2·23 inches from N.W.; prevailing N.W. winds, and strong on 3rd, 7th, 13th, and 25th; snow on 4th and 21st; fog on 16th and 24th. Maximum temperature, 53°; minimum, 21·4° in shade.

Hokitika.—Rain greatly in excess; the maximum recorded on 20th, 1·95 inch for previous twenty-four hours; prevailing easterly winds, and at times stormy; thunder on 26th and 27th. Maximum temperature, 63·4°; minimum, 31°.

Dunedin.—Unusually dry and fine for time of year, except on 4th, 5th, and 9th, when it was wet and disagreeable from S.W.; winds changeable and moderate, but on 24th very strong from N.E.; snow on 4th; fog on 1st; maximum rainfall registered on 3rd, ·720 inch. Maximum temperature, 57°; minimum, 30°.

Queenstown.—Severe frosts, followed by bright days; latter part rather changeable, with light showers; maximum rain recorded on 26th, ·39 inch; prevailing N.W. winds and moderate. Maximum temperature, 51·2°; minimum, 25·5°.

Southland.—Frosty through greater part of month; small rainfall, the maximum on 26th, ·36 inch; winds generally N.E., and light; great fall in barometer on 25th, 29·90° to 29°, followed by high wind during night. Maximum temperature, 61°; minimum, 20°.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The rainfall for this month has been at most of the stations greatly in excess, and the weather on the whole unusually stormy and severe. Earthquakes reported at Napier, 3rd, at 4.16 a.m., and 4th, smart; also Wairoa, on 3rd, at 4.10 a.m., smart; at Okitea on 4th at 12.15 p.m., and 6th, at 5.10 p.m.; at Masterton, afternoon on 9th; Wellington, 5th at 7.20 a.m., and 15th at 2.15 a.m., slight. Wanganui, 18th, 2 p.m., slight. Meteors and auroras observed.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.