THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 881

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

+ One year only.

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

NOTES FOR AUGUST, 1876.

Mongonui.—Unsettled weather; maximum rain recorded on 12th, '96 in; prevailing S.W. winds, and frequently strong
thunder on 16th and 30th; hail on 2nd, 29th, and 30th. Maximum temperature in shade, 68°; minimum, 35°.

Auckland.—Showery, but small total rainfall, the maximum recorded on 2nd, '400 in.; strong S.W. winds on 4th and 5th, other-
wise wind light, and prevailed from westward; hail on 26th and 29th; fog on 19th and 24th. Maximum temperature in
shade, 65.4°; minimum, 38.6°.

Taranaki.—A squally unsettled month, frequent showers, heavy rain recorded on 13th, 1.05 in. falling during night; winds
variable, and often strong; thunder on 30th. Maximum temperature in shade, 64°; minimum, 33°.

Napier.—Remarkably fine, prevailing S. and S.W. winds, and moderate; maximum rainfall recorded an 12th, '31 in. Maximum
temperature in shade, 68°; minimum, 35°.

Wellington.—Showery and unpleasant generally, with intervals of bright clear weather; total rain below the average for same
month in previous years, but frequent showers, the maximum fall recorded on 29th, '900 in.; prevailing N.W. and S.E.
winds, and often strong; on 4th strong S.E. wind during night, with rain; on 8th strong at night from N.W., with heavy
rain; strong S.E. wind on 12th, increasing to a gale in night from S.W., with rain; also stormy on 13th from same quarter;
on 18th strong N.W. wind, with rain; heavy rain on 19th, with hail from N.W., not cold; changed to S.E., and stormy on
20th from that direction and cold; stormy on 25th and 26th from N.W.; heavy rain commenced on night of 28th from S.E.,
ceased on morning of 29th; on 31st, sudden squall of hail and rain from S.E., cleared off and bright night, barometer rising.
Maximum temperature in shade, 60°; minimum, 34°.

Wanganui.—Showery weather, but rainfall small, the maximum recorded on 27th, '70 in.; stormy on 4th N.W., on 14th S.W.,
and 28th N.W.; prevailing N.W. winds and squally. Maximum temperature in shade, 65°; minimum, 32°.

Nelson.—Agreeable weather throughout, with pleasant spring showers, the maximum rain recorded on 27th, 1.28 in.; a strong
northerly breeze on 8th; winds variable but moderate. Maximum temperature in shade, 61°; minimum, 32°.

Cape Campbell.—Fine generally; strong southerly breezes prevailed; thunder on 29th. Maximum temperature in shade, 66.7°;
minimum, 41.5°.

Christchurch.—Commencement of month cold and wet; wind S.W.; on 4th at mid-day a S.W. gale commenced, increasing in force
towards night, moderated on morning of 5th; from 5 p.m. on 4th to 9.30 a.m. on 5th, 466 miles of wind recorded; after
this, weather generally fine; prevailing S.W. and N.E. winds; maximum rain recorded on 2nd, '67 in. Maximum
temperature in shade, 68°; minimum, 27.6°.

Bealey.—Fine and bright generally; greatest rain recorded on 9th, 1.680 in.; gales on nine days, prevailing N. and N.W. winds;
thunder and hail on 8th; five days of snow, four days of fog. Maximum temperature in shade, 50.5°; minimum, 29.4°.

Hokitika.—Squally weather generally, with prevailing easterly winds; greatest rain recorded on 9th, 1.68 in.; hail fell on 4th,
9th, and 19th; fog on 10th. Maximum temperature in shade, 58.6°; minimum, 30.4°.

Dunedin.—Showery and changeable; severe gale on 4th and 5th from S.W., from which quarter the wind prevailed, but other-
wise moderate; snow on 4th and 29th; maximum rain recorded on 20th, '490 in. Maximum temperature in shade, 60°;
minimum, 32°.

Queenstown.—Fine and pleasant weather; small rainfall, the maximum recorded on 9th, '27 in.; prevailing westerly winds, and
moderate; five days of snow, two days of fog. Maximum temperature in shade, 60.1°; minimum, 25.9°.

Southland.—On the whole, a fine month, though windy and showery at times; on 4th, strong S.W. gale, with hail; prevailing
N.E. wind; five days of hail; maximum rain recorded on 8th, '37 in.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Fine weather for time of year. On 4th and 5th a severe S.W. gale was experienced at most of the stations north and
south. On the whole, the rain was below the average. Earthquakes are reported by Observer at Wellington, on 7th, at 3 a.m.,
slight tremble; and at Bealey, on 14th, at 8.4 p.m., smart, S.W. to N.E., 5 seconds.

J. HECTOR, Inspector.