570

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

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

NOTES.-Altitude of Bealey, 2,104 feet; Queenstown, 1,070 feet. The stations marked thus * are furnished with aneroid barometers only.
† For 3 years only. ‡ For 7 years only. For 9 years only. || For 8 years only.

NOTES FOR MAY, 1876.

Mongonui.-Generally fine weather, showery at times, a heavy rainfall recorded on 24th, 2:40 inches; strong N.E. gale on 23rd
and 24th; strong wind on 15th, N.W., slight rain; winds generally moderate, and prevailed from S.W.; fog on 1st and 27th.
Maximum temperature in shade, 75°; minimum, 43°.

Auckland.-Bright, clear, and cold at beginning and end of month, warm and rather moist during middle, barometer high
throughout; maximum rain recorded on 24th, 1'180 in.; strong S.W. winds on 20th and 24th, otherwise moderate, and
prevailed from westward; fog on 12th. Maximum temperature in shade, 70.4°; minimum, 40.1°.

Taranaki.-Fine seasonable weather, frequent showers, but small total fall, the maximum recorded on 24th, 1.12 in.; strong W.
gale on night of 18th, without rain; thunder on 1st; prevailing westerly winds, and moderate. Maximum temperature in
shade, 70°; minimum, 36°.

Napier.-Weather fine, rainfall below average, the maximum recorded on 24th, 58 in.; prevailing S.W. wind, and from 18th
to 21st very high; thick fog on 11th. Maximum temperature in shade, 74°; minimum, 41°.

Wellington.-Showery up to the 7th from N.W. and S.E.; fine from 8th to 22nd, though stormy from 10th to 13th, from N.W.;
on 23rd, barometer, which stood at 30-075, falling, wind N.W., in night changed to S.E., wind increasing and rain, 1.1 in.
recorded on 24th, the maximum fall; severe S.E gale on morning of 24th, with heavy rain, barometer down to 29-192, wind
abated during the day, though still raining, bright night, and wind changed to N.W., barometer 29-628 on 25th; bright cold
weather on 26th and 27th; frosty nights; rain commenced on the night of 27th, with hail; dull, cold, and wet for the
remainder of month from S.E.; foggy on night of 22nd; prevailing N.W. winds. Maximum temperature in shade, 63.5°;
minimum, 37.5°.

Wanganui.-Tolerably fine for time of year, rather less rain than usual for this month, the maximum fall recorded on 25th, 73 in.;
prevailing westerly winds and generally strong, especially on 4th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 25th; fog on 10th. Maximum
temperature in shade, 69°; minimum, 29°.

Nelson.-Generally fine during month, very little rain, only four days, 1.24 in. recorded on 1st for previous twenty-four hours;
prevailing S.W. winds, very strong from 15th to 22nd from that quarter. Maximum temperature in shade, 69°;
minimum, 32°.

Cape Campbell.-Very dry clear weather, but strong gales and breezes almost constantly from westward. Maximum temperature
in shade, 70°; minimum, 43.6°.

Christchurch.-Changeable weather experienced throughout, sudden changes from warm to very cold several times during the
month, little rain, which occurred at commencement and end of month, the maximum fall recorded on 25th only 20 in.; on
11th warm N.W. set in, and continued on 12th and 13th close and oppressive; on 15th changed from heat to intense cold,
terrestrial radiation, 17.8; thunder on 26th; fog on 16th. Maximum temperature in shade, 77.5°; minimum, 26.5°.

Bealey.-Showery dull weather, with occasional bright days; sharp frosts towards end of month; greatest fall of rain recorded on
14th, 3.110 in.; prevailing N. W. wind, and strong, gales from that quarter on 11th, 12th, 14th, 17th, and 21st; thunder
on 1st and 3rd; snow on 4th; hail on 1st, and six days of fog. Maximum temperature in shade, 64°; minimum, 22.4°.

Hokitika.--Wet weather, but about the average for time of year. The maximum fall of rain recorded on 1st, 2.00 for
previous 24 hours; also, 1.25 in. on 19th. Strong westerly wind on 3rd; and stormy from S.W. on 18th and 19th, with heavy
rain; thunder on 1st; hail on 1st and 13th; and 5 days of fog. Maximum temperature in shade, 61.4°; minimum, 33.0°.

Dunedin.-Dry weather generally, showery towards end of month, small total rainfall, the maximum recorded on 19th, 32 in.
prevailing S.W. wind and strong from 17th to 21st; snow on 19th. Maximum temperature in shade, 68°; minimum, 35°.;

Queenstown.-Rain during early part of month; on 5th, fine westerly weather set in, which prevailed, with showers at intervals,
for rest of month. Maximum rain recorded on 13th, 93 in.; snow on hills on 4 days; fog on 25th. Maximum
temperature in shade, 68.4°; minimum, 30.5°.

Southland.-Wet unpleasant weather, with prevailing S.W. wind; a westerly gale on 18th and 19th, with rain, thunder, and
hail; hail also on 20th; maximum rain recorded on 19th, 1.31 in.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Strong westerly gales prevailed throughout this period; rain below the average. Earthquakes reported by Observers at
Wanganui, on 5th, at 6.5 a.m., slight; at Wellington, on 5th, at 6.10 a.m., slight, and on 31st, between 3 and 4 a.m., sharp; at
Christchurch, on 6th, at 6.30 a.m., slight; at Queenstown, on 14th, at 5.40 p.m., two shocks; at Taranaki, on 26th. By Tele-
graph Department-At Invercargill, on 3rd, at 6.35 p.m., two slight shocks, direction W. to E.; at Bluff, on 3rd, at 6.30
p.m., slight, W. to E.; at Foxton, on 3rd, at 7.54 a.m., sharp, preceded by loud rumbling, N. to S., short duration; at
Blenheim, on 5th, at 6 a.m., slight, E. and W.; at Queenstown, on 14th, at 5.50 p.m., two shocks, with noise, duration of first
10 seconds, of second 20 seconds, W. to E.; at Port Chalmers, on 20th, at 4.17 a.m., smart; at Oamaru, on 20th, at 5.30 a.m.,
sharp; at Oamaru, on 31st, at 5.20 p.m., S.E. to N.W.

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