802
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of SEPTEMBER, 1874

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

NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1874.

Mongonui.—Unsettled weather throughout; wind and rain above the average; the maximum rain recorded on 13th, 2-20 inches;
prevailing N.W. winds, and frequently very stormy; seven days of thunder. Maximum temperature in shade, 68°; mini-
mum, 41°.

Auckland.—Showery unpleasant weather, with strong winds chiefly from West; severe gales on 22nd and 23rd from that
quarter; maximum rainfall on 13th, 930 inch. Maximum temperature, 66.9°; minimum, 37.9°.

Taranaki.—Squally, wet, unpleasant weather, winds chiefly westerly; strong on 1st, 9th, 14th, and 22nd; thunder on 3rd and
8th; hail on 19th; maximum rainfall on 20th, 1.05 inch for previous twenty-four hours. Maximum temperature, 66";
minimum, 34°.

Napier.—Unsettled weather, frequent showers during nights; heavy rain on 14th, 1-19 inch recorded; wind prevailed from N.W.
and often strong; gale on 26th and 27th from that quarter without rain. Maximum temperature, 73°; minimum, 36°.

Wellington.—A most unpleasant, wet, stormy month; rain greatly in excess and almost constant; the maximum fall occurred
on 29th, 1-43 inch; wind prevailed from N.W., and frequent storms with rain; hail squalls on 3rd, 9th, 13th, and 14th;
foggy on 27th and 28th; low barometer generally during the month. Maximum temperature, 60°; minimum, 37.5°.

Wanganui.—Wet weather, and generally stormy from N.W.; strong westerly winds on 4th, 24th, and 25th; maximum rainfall
recorded on 29th, 1.05 inch. Maximum temperature, 75°; minimum, 34°.

Nelson.—Unusually wet, with prevailing easterly wind; maximum rainfall recorded on 19th, 2.42 inches; gales on 23rd, 29th,
and 30th from East. Maximum temperature, 74°; minimum, 31°.

Cape Campbell.—Stormy weather from S. and N.W., at times very strong wind; rainfall not so heavy, maximum occurring on
23rd, 1-1 inch; at times fine and clear; hail on 14th; fog on 18th. Maximum temperature, 66.2°; minimum, 39°.

Christchurch.—Very wet for time of year, although no heavy falls, the maximum recorded being 81 inch on 4th; wind prevailed
from S.W., and generally moderate; gale from S.W. on 3rd and on 23rd; stormy from S.E.; snow fell on 4th, and hail on
3rd and 4th. Maximum temperature, 69.2°; minimum, 28·1° in shade. Severe floods occurred in the surrounding districts,
doing considerable damage.

Bealey.—Severe, wet, and unpleasant throughout; excessive rain, 3 inches recorded on 29th; wind prevailed from N.W., and
strong from that quarter on 2nd, 12th, and 25th, with rain; thunder on 7th and 29th; eight days of snow and three days
of hail. Maximum temperature in shade, 54°; minimum, 24°.

Hokitika.—Very wet squally unpleasant weather, and cold; maximum rain recorded on 28th, 3.1 inches; wind generally
easterly; thunder on 7th, 8th, and 9th. Maximum temperature, 56.8°; minimum, 31°.

Dunedin.—Very wet and cold; maximum rain, 1-30 inch on 29th; wind changeable and moderate; rather stormy on 30th from
W.; snow fell on 3rd, 20th, and 21st; hail on 3rd; fog on 18th; fine weather from 8th to 13th. Maximum temperature,
60°; minimum, 32°.

Queenstown.—Very changeable during month, and at times wet and severe, particularly the latter part; prevailing N.W. wind,
and strong on 2nd, 12th, and 14th; thunder on 2nd and 25th; snow on 6 days. Maximum temperature, 57°; minimum,
30-6°.

Southland.—A cold severe month with frequent rain, maximum recorded on 30th, 1.01 inch; wind changeable and stormy; cold
gale on 23rd from E.; hail on 4th and 21st.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Unusually heavy rainfall throughout the colony, in some districts the floods causing considerable damage. Westerly winds
prevailed, and at times strong gales occurred. Low atmospheric pressure, and temperature below the average: in the South the
weather was occasionally very severe. Slight earthquake reported at Taranaki on 14th.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.