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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

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

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

NOTES FOR FEBRUARY, 1876.

Mongonui.—Fine weather, little rain; the maximum fall recorded on 24th, 5.3 in.; winds prevailed from S. and N.E.; strong
S. wind on 4th, and lightning without thunder; also on 12th, strong from same quarter; on 24th and 29th, strong easterly
winds. Maximum temperature in shade, 85°; minimum, 54°.

Auckland.—Fine pleasant weather, but very dry; wind prevailed from S.W., and moderate; very slight rainfall; the maximum
recorded on 24th, ·760 in. Maximum temperature in shade, 84.1°; minimum, 54.6°.

Taranaki.—Very dry hot weather; heavy falls of rain however recorded on 2nd, 1.13 in., and on 24th, 1.26 in.; wind prevailed
from S.W., and moderate. Maximum temperature in shade, 85°; minimum, 49°.

Napier.—Generally fine, with prevailing moderate N.E. winds; maximum rain registered on 1st, 1.08 in. Maximum temperature
in shade, 88°; minimum, 52.0°.

Wellington.—Very fine bright clear weather prevailed almost throughout the month, with little rain; wind chiefly from N.W.—
very stormy on night of 11th from that quarter, with heavy rain; severe thunder storm and vivid lightning, strong N.W.
wind, and heavy rain on night of 20th; ·50 in. recorded on 21st, the maximum fall for the month. Exceedingly dry weather
during the greater part of month. Maximum temperature in shade, 79.8; minimum, 50.6.

Wanganui.—Only four days of rain, but heavy showers; the maximum fall recorded on 2nd, 1.50 in.; otherwise pleasant
weather, with prevailing N.W. winds, which were moderate, except on 23rd and 24th, when it blew fresh. Maximum
temperature in shade, 84°; minimum, 44°.

Nelson.—Generally fine, with prevailing W. winds; strong S.W. gale on 12th, with rain; fresh breezes on 9th from S.W., and
on 16th and 19th from N.; maximum rain recorded on 24th, ·154 in. Maximum temperature in shade, 64°; minimum, 44°.

Cape Campbell.—Very dry weather throughout the month; prevailing N.W. and S.E. winds, and frequently strong. Maximum
temperature in shade, 81.7°; minimum, 55.2°.

Christchurch.—Fine, and very warm at times; small rainfall, the maximum recorded on 3rd, ·64 in.; prevailing S.W. and W.E.
winds and moderate. Maximum temperature in shade, 82°; minimum, 48.5°.

Bealey.—Tolerably fine; showery middle of month, greatest fall recorded on 12th, 2.500 in.; strong N.W. winds prevailed, and
gales on ten days; fog on 31st. Maximum temperature in shade, 83°; minimum, 36°.

Hokitika.—Generally dull and showery; greatest rain recorded on 12th, 1.40 in.; prevailing northerly winds, and light;
thunder on 2nd, 12th, 16th, and 21st. Maximum temperature in shade, 72.4°; minimum, 45.4°.

Dunedin.—Fine, with light showers; maximum fall of rain registered on 24th, ·43 in.; prevailing S.W. winds, and moderate.
Maximum temperature in shade, 80°; minimum, 45°.

Queenstown.—Comparatively fine; cold weather about the 12th and 20th, when snow fell on hills; winds moderate, and pre-
vailed from N.W.; maximum rain recorded on 12th, ·65 in.; thunder on 16th; fog on 1st, 21st, and 29th. Maximum
temperature in shade, 88.9°; minimum, 44.1°.

Southland.—Cloudy warm weather, with prevailing S.W. wind; heavy gale on 10th, from that quarter; maximum rainfall
recorded on 20th, ·83 in. Maximum temperature in shade, 84°; minimum, 41°.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Fine weather was experienced throughout during this period; rainfall below and temperature above the average; no gales
of any note occurred. Earthquakes reported by Meteorological Observers are,—at Queenstown on 25th, at 3.20 a.m., and on 26th,
at 8.40 a.m.; also at Dunedin, on 26th, shocks felt. At Cape Campbell, on 29th, a smart shock felt at 4.45 a.m. From the
Telegraph Department we have the following reports:—On 26th, at Oamaru, a severe shock was felt at 3.25 a.m., direction
N.W. to S.E.; a slighter shock at 4.15 a.m.; another severe shake at 8.55 a.m., same direction; several chimneys down, others
cracked, stone buildings damaged; on 28th, report that slight shocks still continued, no damage; on night of same date, however,
a sharp shock was felt at 8.40 p.m., direction N.E. to S.W. At Port Chalmers, on 26th, at 3.24 a.m., a heavy shock, lasting
twenty seconds, preceded by two very slight shocks, and at 8.50 a.m. another long shake, not so severe as the first; slight
shakes have been reported since, but are rather uncertain. At Waimate, on 26th, two sharp shocks reported, one at 3 a.m., and
one at 8.50 a.m., direction E. to W. At Naseby, on 26th, shocks felt slightly at 3 a.m. and 8.45 a.m, direction N. to S. A smart
shock reported to have been felt in Wellington on 29th, at about 4 a.m.

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