284

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of JANUARY, 1876.

STATIONS. | BAROMETER.
Corrected and
Reduced to Sea
Level. | TEMPERATURE FROM SELF-REGISTERING
INSTRUMENTS, READ IN MORNING
FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS PREVIOUSLY. | COMPUTED
FROM
OBSERVATIONS. | RAIN. | WIND. | CLOUD.

MONGONUI
Same month previous 9 years
AUCKLAND
Same month previous 12 yrs.
TARANAKI
Same month previousl2 yrs.
NAPIER
Same month previous 9 years
WELLINGTON
Same month previous 12 yrs.
WANGANUI
Same month previous 4 years
NELSON
Same month previous 12 yrs.
CAPE CAMPBELL
Same month previous 2 years
CHRISTCHURCH
Same month previous 12 yrs.
BEALEY
Same month previous 8 years
HOKITIKA
Same month previous10yrs.
DUNEDIN
Same monthprevious12 yrs.
*QUEENSTOWN
Same month previous 4 years
SOUTHLAND
Same month previousll yrs.

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

NOTES FOR JANUARY, 1876.

Mongonui.—Very wet and unsettled during the month; heavy rainfalls, especially during last part, the maximum fall recorded
on 25th, 2.0 in.; prevailing easterly winds, and strong gales on 16th, 29th, 30th, and 31st from that quarter; thunder on
4th, 5th, 6th, 24th, 25th, and 27th. Maximum temperature in shade, 88°; minimum, 54°.
Auckland.—Generally cold, damp, and cloudy, with a few warm days in beginning of month; rain considerably above average,
maximum fall recorded on 25th, 1.615 in.; thunder on 4th and 5th, and hail on 5th; short squalls and low barometer;
strong wind on 6th and 8th, from S.W.; prevailing easterly winds. Maximum temperature in shade, 86.3°; minimum, 53.1°.
Taranaki.—A very dry, hot month; rainfall very small, the maximum recorded on 21st, 50 in.; prevailing S.E. winds, no gales.
Maximum temperature in shade, 85.5°; minimum, 52°.
Napier.—Very wet and unpleasant throughout the month; rainfall greatly in excess, the maximum recorded on 15th, 2.69 in.,
most of which fell during the night of 14th; also heavy rain on 6th, 18th, 19th, and 20th; thick fog on 22nd; prevailing winds
easterly. Maximum temperature in shade, 85.0°; minimum, 52.0°.
Wanganui.—Fine weather; only occasional showers, the maximum rain recorded on 23rd, 1.10 in.; prevailing westerly winds,
strong on 2nd; thunder on 22nd. Maximum temperature in shade, 82°; minimum, 49°.
Wellington.—From 1st to 7th, showery, cold, and unpleasant weather from S.E.; with the exception of a few slight showers, the
weather for the remainder of month was exceedingly fine and bright, with pleasant breezes from S.E., from which quarter
the wind prevailed; rainfall considerably below the average, yet the mean degree of moisture for month is rather high (79);
heavy dews occurred at nights; maximum rainfall recorded on 6th, 300 in. Maximum temperature in shade, 79°;
minimum, 49.5°.
Nelson.—An exceedingly fine month; very light rainfall, the maximum recorded on 1st, 24 in., the only day on which rain fell;
wind easterly, and strong from 15th to 19th. Maximum temperature in shade, 80°; minimum, 46°.
Cape Campbell.—Dull and cloudy during first half of month, otherwise fine; very little rain, the greatest fall recorded on 15th,
15 in.; prevailing S.E. winds, and strong on 3rd, 5th, 7th, 13th, and 14th. Maximum temperature in shade, 80.9°;
minimum, 52°.
Christchurch.—Pleasant weather, though showery at times; maximum rain recorded on 7th, 22 in.; prevailing easterly winds,
and moderate. Maximum temperature in shade, 82.5°; minimum, 40.7°.
Bealey.—Very small rainfall for this station, the maximum recorded on 11th, 36 in.; fine warm weather generally; south-east
wind prevailed, north-west gales on 10th and 11th; thunder on 8th, 20th, and 30th; fog on 30th. Maximum temperature
in shade, 81.8°; minimum, 34°.
Hokitika.—Fine bright pleasant weather, with occasional showers, greatest fall recorded on 22nd, 94 in.; prevailing westerly
winds, and strong on 10th; fog on 17th. Maximum temperature in shade, 76.7°; minimum, 47.9°.
Dunedin.—Very fine, with occasional showers; prevailing N.E. wind, and light; maximum rain recorded on 7th, 504 in.
Maximum temperature in shade, 72°; minimum, 40°.
Queenstown.—Calm, warm weather prevailed, with little rain, the greatest fall recorded on 4th, 32 in.; prevailing N.W. winds,
and light; fog on 30th. Maximum temperature in shade, 85.4°; minimum, 39.6°.
Southland.—A very hot, dry month, and oppressive at times; thunder on 21st and 23rd; greatest rain recorded on 23rd, 34 in.
Maximum temperature in shade, 88°; minimum, 30°.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Except at some of the Northern stations, the rainfall has been very much less than is usual for this month, very hot dry
weather prevailing, with easterly winds, and generally moderate. The weather at Mongonui, Auckland, and Napier has,
however, been very wet, squally, and unpleasant, the rainfall being greatly in excess of the average. Earthquakes were reported
by the Observers at Napier on 13th, at 4.13 p.m., sharp; at Wanganui, same date, at 4.25 p.m., slight; also by telegraph, same
date, at Napier, 4.20 p.m., duration 12 seconds, direction E. and W., heaviest shock felt for some years. Also, by Hokitika
Observer, on 10th, slight. Meteor observed at Queenstown on 22nd.

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