THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
433

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

Altitude of Bealey, 2,104 feet; Queenstown, 1,070 feet. The stations marked thus * are furnished with aneroid barometers only.
† 10 years. ‡ 7 years. § 3 years.

NOTES FOR MARCH, 1876.

Mongonui.--Unsettled weather, with prevailing S.E. winds, frequently strong; showery generally, the maximum fall recorded
on 2nd, 1.80 in. Maximum temperature in shade, 82°; minimum, 47°.

Auckland. First part generally fine, latter part showery, though total rain below the average, the maximum fall recorded on
2nd, 620 in.; prevailing winds E. to N.E. and W. to S.W., and moderate, except on 1st and 22nd, when it blew hard;
hail on 24th. Maximum temperature in shade, 80°.5; minimum, 46°.9.

Taranaki. Showery from 17th to 25th, otherwise fine weather; strong gale on 22nd from N.W., and also on 30th from S.E.;
prevailing winds from N.E., S.E., and S.W. Maximum temperature in shade, 83°; minimum, 41°.

Napier. Fine weather, occasional showers, small total fall, the maximum recorded on 5th, 15 in.; S.W. gale on night of 20th;
prevailing westerly winds, and generally moderate. Maximum temperature in shade, 84°; minimum, 44°.

Wellington. Heavy rain on night of 1st from N.W., and strong gale on 2nd from the same quarter, also with rain; very stormy
on 20th and 21st from N.W., without rain; on 22nd strong from N.W., barometer 29 158, changing in night to S.E., and
rain and wind; stormy on 29th, 30th, and 31st from S.E., and wet. Fine during the greater part of month, and very dry
and warm, the wind prevailed from N.W. and S.E., often strong; maximum rain recorded on 2nd, 600 in.; brilliant
meteor observed on 19th at 10.55 p.m. Maximum temperature in shade, 80°; minimum, 41°.6.

Wanganui. Showery early part, fiue from 4th to 15th, and wet for remainder of month; maximum rain recorded on 2nd,
1.10 in.; prevailing N.W. winds, and very strong at times; fog on 28th. Maximum temperature in shade, 84°; mini-
mum, 41°0.

Nelson.-Beginning of month unpleasant weather, heavy rain, wind S.E., thunder and lightning on 2nd and 3rd; strong
S.W. gale on 16th and 17th, no rain: prevailing N. and N.E. winds; maximum rain recorded on 3rd, 1.98 in. Maximum
temperature in shade, 78°; minimum, 36°.

Cape Campbell.-Light breezes from N.W. and S.E. during the first half of month, gales from W. and S. in latter part, 1,098
miles of wind recorded on 22nd from former quarter; very dry throughout. Maximum temperature in shade, 81°-6;
minimum, 51°0.

Christchurch. Showery, with intervals of fine weather; maximum rainfall recorded on 29th, 80 in.; prevailing N.E. and S.W.
winds, and generally moderate; storm from S.W. on night of 22nd, with thunder, lightning, and rain. Maximum
temperature in shade, 76°4; minimum, 39°.2.

Bealey. Fine and warm, but showery; maximum rain recorded on 22nd, 1.80 in.; prevailing N.W. winds, and very strong;
gales on nine days, very stormy on 16th; thunder on 2nd; fog on 4th, 12th, and 14th. Maximum temperature in shade, 74°;
minimum, 31°.

Hokitika. Wet weather generally, though at times fine and bright; winds changeable, strong on 18th from S. and on 29th from
N.W.; thunder on 3rd, hail on 9th, and fog on 13th; maximum rain recorded on 10th, 1.68 in. Maximum temperature
in shade, 72°-6; minimum, 36°.9.

Dunedin. Weather changeable and showery; maximum rain recorded on 19th, 500 in.; prevailing S.W. wind, strong from
that quarter on 18th, with rain, and on 22nd from N.W. and W., also with rain; fog on 10th and 11th. Maximum
temperature in shade, 73°; minimum, 37°.

Queenstown. Fine, though showery during middle of month; maximum fall recorded on 22nd, 49 in.; light changeable winds,
frequent calms; fog on 3rd and 14th; snow on hills on 19th. Maximum temperature in shade, 76°-3; minimum, 35°.1.

Southland.-Beginning of month very warm; stormy weather from 16th to 24th from S.W.; thunder on 17th, 18th, and 21st;
hail on 17th, 18th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th; sharp frosts on mornings of 26th and 30th; very stormy on 18th, S.W., with
rain; maximum rain registered on 3rd, 1-24 in., rainfall considerably above average; prevailing N.W. and S.W. winds.
Maximum temperature in shade, 82°; minimum, 27°.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Weather rather squally and unpleasant during this month; total rain about the average, but very showery, with thunder
and hail in the South; temperature for time of year high throughout. Earthquakes reported by Observers at Taranaki
on 27th, at 10.10 p.m., smart; at Nelson, on 26th, at 4.20 a.m. From Telegraph Department-Shocks reported at Wanganui
on 7th, at 1.20 a.m., sharp and abrupt; at Oamaru, on 9th, at 10.40 p.m., sharp, direction east and west; and on 10th, at
5.25 a.m., also sharp, and east and west.

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