THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 509

ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of MAY, 1875.

Altitude of Bealey, 2,104 feet; Queenstown, 1,070 feet. The stations marked thus * are furnished with aneroid barometers only.
† For 27 days only. ‡ Approximate, the instrument having been broken during the storm.

NOTES FOR MAY, 1875.

Mongonui.—Fine to the 6th, with southerly winds, remainder of month unsettled, frequent rain; the maximum recorded on 16th, 1·25 inch; prevailing S.W. winds, and strong at times; thunder on 11th, 12th, 16th, and 20th; hail on 12th, 16th, and 20th; and fog on 29th. Maximum temperature in shade, 80°; minimum, 43°.

Auckland.—Wet unpleasant weather, with prevailing S.W. winds, and generally strong; the maximum rain recorded on 25th, 2·13 inch; on 29th stormy from S.W., with thunder and rain; fog on 9th, 11th, and 30th. Maximum temperature, 70·5°; minimum, 40·1° in shade.

Taranaki.—Wet unpleasant weather; maximum rain recorded on 8th 2·06 inches; prevailing S.E. wind but moderate; thunder on 25th, also hail. Maximum temperature, 74°; minimum, 40° in shade.

Napier.—Generally wet and cold, with occasional bright days; maximum rain recorded on 10th, 1·94 inch; prevailing southerly wind, and squally, strong on 24th and 25th; hail on 4th. Maximum temperature, 72°; minimum, 38° in shade.

Wellington.—Unpleasant cold showery weather prevailed during this month, with N.W. and S.E. winds, and frequently stormy; on 14th and 15th strong N.W. wind, with rain, and on the 16th severe thunderstorm, with vivid lightning and heavy rain about 7.30 p.m., cleared off during night; on 25th, 26th, and 27th, cold unpleasant wet S.E. weather and strong winds; hail on 1st; fog on 8th, 9th, and 11th; maximum rain recorded on 4th, 1·10 inch. Maximum temperature in shade, 67°; minimum, 38°.

Wanganui.—Wet weather generally, at times fine and bright; maximum rain registered on 26th, ·870 inch; prevailing N.W. winds, strong from that quarter on 25th and 26th, and from S.E. on 27th and 28th; thunder on 1st, 2nd, and 23rd; fog on 9th. Maximum temperature, 75°; minimum, 38° in shade.

Nelson.—Fine weather on the whole; strong S.W. wind on 8th, and strong wind from N.E., with rain, on 14th; 2·14 inch recorded on 15th; snow on hills on 3rd and 27th; wind prevailed from S.E. Maximum temperature, 69·0°; minimum, 32·0° in shade.

Cape Campbell.—Wet weather and heavy gales from S. and S.E. throughout; maximum rain on 25th, 1·27 inch; on 26th the wind, which had been varying from S.W. to N.W., shifted to S. in a heavy squall, with hail; by 9 a.m., the barometer was 29·53, and rising to 30·00 on 27th. The gale on 26th was so strong that it broke the wind instrument, so that the total, force recorded on 27th, 1,500 miles, is only approximate; fog on 13th and 14th. Maximum temperature in shade, 73·3°; minimum, 43·3°.

Christchurch.—Wet unpleasant weather, with prevailing S.W. winds; stormy on 3rd, 4th, 8th, and 27th, with hail on 1st, 3rd, and 4th; thunder on 4th; fog on 12th, and snow on 27th; maximum rain recorded on 4th, 1·30 inch. Maximum temperature, 65·0°; minimum, 32·3° in shade.

Bealey.—Wet and unpleasant, with an occasional fine day; excessive rainfall; maximum recorded on 15th, 5·180 inch; prevailing N.W. winds, but generally moderate; thunder on 15th and 16th; five days of snow, eleven days of fog, and hail on 16th. Maximum temperature in shade, 58·5°; minimum, 26°.

Hokitika.—Fine up to 7th, followed by showery weather from S.E., and at times stormy; maximum rain recorded on 23rd, 2·90 inch, total fall excessive; thunder on 15th, 16th, and 24th; fine snow on 2nd; hail on 15th and 16th. Maximum temperature in shade, 68·6°; minimum, 32·9°.

Dunedin.—Very wet and disagreeable, except from 21st to 24th; maximum rainfall on 4th, 1·03 inch; prevailing S.W. winds, and strong on 20th; thunder on 2nd; snow on 2nd; hail on 2nd and 26th. Maximum temperature in shade, 62·0°; minimum, 33·0°.

Queenstown.—Changeable weather; snow storms occurred at the commencement and during the middle of month; intervals of fine weather experienced; maximum rain on 24th, ·75 inch; prevailing N.W. winds, and moderate; fog on 8th and 9th, and snow on five days. Maximum temperature in shade, 60·8°; minimum, 32·1°.

Southland.—Very unsettled wet weather; maximum rain on 26th, ·780 inch; prevailing S.W. wind and moderate; strong from E. on 8th; thunder on 3rd; hail on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 9th, at times very cold severe weather. Maximum temperature in shade, 65·0°; minimum, 26°.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The rainfall at nearly all the stations was excessive for this period, and the degree of moisture higher than usual. Wind prevailed from S.W., and some strong gales occurred, with thunder, hail, and snow. Earthquake at Wellington on 12th at 10.30 a.m., slight; at Blenheim on 24th at 4.45 p.m., very smart; and at Hutt, Wellington, same date, slight, at 5 p.m.

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