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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

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

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

NOTES FOR DECEMBER, 1874.

Mongonui.—Fine dry weather generally; very slight rainfall; the maximum recorded on 14th, ·87 inch; prevailing westerly winds and moderate; thunder on 19th and 20th. Maximum temperature in shade, 81°; minimum, 53°.

Auckland.—Fine pleasant weather; a few showers during middle of month; the maximum fall on 5th, ·765 inch for previous twenty-four hours; prevailing S.W. winds; no storm occurred; thunder on 16th. Maximum temperature, 81·4°; minimum, 50·1°.

Taranaki.—Very pleasant weather with occasional showers; wind changeable and light; maximum rain recorded on 16th, 1·93 inch. Maximum temperature, 78°; minimum, 49°.

Napier.—First and last part of month very fine, but from 10th to 26th wet; the maximum fall registered on 18th, 1·22 inch; prevailing N.E. and S.E. winds and moderate; thunder on 10th and 11th; hail on 23rd. Maximum temperature, 79°; minimum, 46°.

Wellington.—Generally fine bright clear summer weather during the month; frequently very hot sun, and nights oppressive; on 4th rough N.W. weather, changing to S.E., and heavy rain, 1·3 inch recorded on 5th, the maximum for month; on 7th, strong N.W. wind, and on 26th, stormy from same quarter but fine; wind prevailed from N.W.; pleasant showers at intervals. Maximum temperature in shade, 74°; minimum, 45·5°.

Wanganui.—Showery during middle of month, also dull and sultry; otherwise weather fine and pleasant; the maximum rain recorded on 17th, 1·08 inch; wind chiefly from S.W.; on 27th and 28th, stormy from S.E.; thunder on 16th. Maximum temperature, 80°; minimum, 43°.

Nelson.—Fine, with occasional showers; the maximum fall for month recorded on 5th, 1·52 inch; on night of 4th a thunder-storm occurred with heavy rain; wind variable and generally light; squally on 26th from S.W.; thunder also on 16th. Maximum temperature, 79°; minimum, 40°.

Cape Campbell.—Moderate winds with showers during first and middle of month; latter part light winds and dry; winds prevailed from S.E. and N.W.; very slight rain though often light showers, the maximum fall recorded on 10th, ·44 inch. Maximum temperature, 78·5°; minimum, 49°.

Christchurch.—From 3rd to 22nd showery and dull; the maximum rain recorded on 22nd, 1·26 inch; remainder of month very fine and bright; on 21st a storm from S.W. with rain; winds generally from N.E. and S.W. and moderate. Maximum temperature, 82°; minimum, 44·1°.

Bealey.—Very pleasant, warm, but showery weather; small rainfall, the maximum on 25th, ·85 inch; prevailing wind, N.W., and high on 1st, 2nd, and 27th. Maximum temperature, 74°; minimum, 31°.

Hokitika.—On the whole pleasant though showery; the maximum rainfall recorded on 4th, ·94 inch; winds variable and moderate. Maximum temperature, 75·3°; minimum, 42·7°.

Dunedin.—Dull and showery but agreeable, with light variable winds; maximum rainfall on 3rd, ·762 inch. Maximum temperature, 76°; minimum, 40°.

Queenstown.—Fine though changeable; frequently calm; little rain, maximum recorded on 26th, ·58 inch; strong S.W. wind on 4th. Maximum temperature, 78·7°; minimum, 37·0°.

Southland.—Showery but pleasant at times; maximum rain on 4th, ·66 inch; strong winds at times prevailed from E. and N.W.; thunder on 20th. Maximum temperature, 83°; minimum, 39°.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Very fine bright summer weather throughout month; pleasant showers, but slight rainfall, and winds generally moderate. Earthquake reported at Christchurch on 1st; and at Opunake on 15th, at 8 a.m., slight.

W. B. D. MANTELL (for Inspector).

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