THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 733

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

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

NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1875.

Mongonui.—Unpleasant wet weather, large rainfall, the maximum recorded on 21st, 1.88 inch; prevailing southerly wind;
strong wind on 3rd and 4th from N.W.; N.E. gales on 9th and 11th, with thunder; also strong on 22nd and 23rd, same
quarter; thunder again on 21st and 30th. A few fine days occurred. Maximum temperature in shade, 73.3°;
minimum, 40.0°.

Auckland.—Showery weather, occurring chiefly during nights; pleasant days generally; prevailing S.W. winds, strong on 12th,
13th, and 16th; maximum rain recorded on 10th, 1.065 inch. Maximum temperature in shade, 66.1°; minimum, 38.6°.

Taranaki.

Napier.—Early part fine; on 6th unsettled weather set in, and continued showery, with occasional fine days; wind prevailed
from N. and N.E., and moderate; no heavy falls of rain; the maximum recorded on 7th and 16th, 46 inch. Maximum
temperature in shade, 68°; minimum, 36°.

Wellington.—Fine during 1st and 2nd; N.W. wind on night of 3rd, heavy rain and wind; on 4th slight rain, strong wind, and
thunder and lightning, barometer falling, rain in night, and changed to S.E., and continued wet and unpleasant to 6th;
fine to 11th, wind N.W.; changed in afternoon of 11th to S.E., and brought rain; fine on 13th and 14th from N.W.; in
night of 14th sudden change to S.E., and rained heavily; 2.200 inches recorded on 15th, the maximum for month;
continued wet and squally and cold to 16th; from 17th to 26th changeable weather, frequent showers, but at times
pleasant; storm on night of 22nd from N.W.; from 27th to 30th fine and bright, though fresh breezes from S.E. and N.W.
Wind prevailed throughout the month from N.W. and S.E.; on the whole a showery, squally month. Maximum
temperature in shade, 63°; minimum, 35°.

Wanganui.—Generally fine weather, with N.W. winds, and moderate; small rainfall; the maximum recorded on 15th, 1.00
inch. Maximum temperature in shade, 67°; minimum, 32°.

Nelson.—Very wet, with prevailing N.E. winds; no strong gale occurred at station, although rough weather was experienced
around the district; thunder on 4th; maximum rainfall registered on 15th, 2.21 inches. Maximum temperature in shade,
64°; minimum, 34°.

Cape Campbell.—Dry, but dull weather, with strong breezes prevailing from N.W.; maximum rain recorded on 15th, 74 inch.
Maximum temperature in shade, 66.2°; minimum, 40°.

Christchurch.—Showery in middle and end of month; but otherwise fine, with prevailing N.E. and S.W. winds, and moderate;
maximum rainfall recorded on 17th, 54 inch; hail on 16th and 17th. Maximum temperature in shade, 68°; minimum, 31°.

Bealey.—Wet early and middle portion of month, the remainder very fine; prevailing N.W. wind, and generally strong; gales
on eight days; thunder on 23rd; snow 15th, 16th, and 26th; fog on 19th. Maximum temperature in shade, 57°;
minimum, 25°.

Hokitika.—Few days of rain, but heavy total fall; usually fine and bright, with prevailing easterly winds and moderate;
thunder on 14th; maximum rain on 3rd. Maximum temperature in shade, 59.9°; minimum, 30.9°.

Dunedin.—Very changeable weather, except from 5th to 13th, when it was fine; rain about the average; maximum recorded on
14th, 600 inch; winds N.E. and S.W., and moderate. Maximum temperature in shade, 64°; minimum, 34°.

Queenstown.—Fine bright weather generally; maximum rain recorded on 14th, 1.34 inch; N.W. winds prevailed; frequent
calms. Maximum temperature in shade, 61.7°; minimum, 31.3°.

Southland.—Middle of month wet and cold from S.W., otherwise tolerably fine; strong wind on 1st and 22nd from N.W., and
on 23rd from S.W.; maximum rain recorded on 11th and 15th, 27 inch; prevailing westerly winds; hail on 15th, 16th,
and 24th.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Rainfall in the North was in excess of the average for same month in previous years; but in the South it was generally less
than usual. The temperature was throughout below the average. Westerly winds prevailed generally, and on the whole moderate.
Earthquakes were reported by Observers at Napier, Wellington, and Queenstown on 5th, at 11.15 p.m., slight; at Nelson on
18th, in forenoon, smart; at Nelson and Wellington on 25th, at about 6 p.m., smart, with noise; also at Blenheim and
Havelock, same date and time, by telegram; at Wellington, by Observer, and at Blenheim and Havelock on 28th, at about 1.30
a.m., sharp, with noise; two sharp shocks also reported by telegram at Havelock on 21st, at 6.28 and 6.52 p.m., with noise.
The Observer at Cape Campbell reports shocks occurring on 19th, 20th, 22nd, 25th, and 28th.

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