932

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

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

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

NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1876.

Mongonui. -Showery, unsettled month; maximum rain recorded on 13th, 1'46 in.; prevailing westerly winds, and generally
strong; N.E. gale on 13th, with rain; thunder on 14th and 16th; hail on 19th. Maximum temperature in shade, 68°;
minimum, 41°.

Auckland. Wet weather generally, with short intervals of fine; low barometer between 12th and 19th, with strong wind, chiefly
from westward; rain, and temperature high, cooler towards close of month; maximum rain recorded on 13th, 1.050
in.; prevailing westerly winds; thunder on 3rd, 4th, and 14th; hail on 25th. Maximum temperature in shade, 65.7°;
minimum, 39°.

Taranaki. Frequent showers, though rainfall about the average, the maximum occurring on 13th, 1.38 in.; prevailing westerly
winds; a gale on 2nd, S.W., with thunder, lightning, and rain; thick fog on 13th, on which date barometer fell to 29.224
from 29.973 on 12th; not much wind. Maximum temperature in shade, 66°; minimum, 33°.

Napier. Very fine weather; slight rainfall, the maximum recorded on 25th, 34 in.; high winds in early part of month
from W. and S.W., especially on 4th and 5th; on 13th a thick fog, lasting some hours; low barometer; heavy hail storm on
24th, at 11 a.m.; towards end of month wind chiefly from N.E., and moderate. Maximum temperature in shade, 70°;
minimum, 35°.

Wellington. The weather has been on the whole fine for the time of year, the rain being below the average; the greatest fall
was recorded on 13th, 45 in. for previous twenty-four hours; strong N.W. winds prevailed, especially on 1st, 3rd, 9th, 15th,
16th, and 22nd-on the last date, during the night, it blew a furious gale from that quarter, doing considerable damage;
barometer fell to 29.300, and rose towards morning of 23rd, the wind shifting to S.E.; thunder on 17th; fog on 13th
and 14th; some very bright pleasant weather occurred during the month. Maximum temperature in shade, 65°3°;
minimum, 34.3°.

Wanganui. Commencement and middle of month very wet; wind principally N.W. and strong; maximum rain recorded on
18th, 60 in.; thunder on 3rd and 18th; frequent storms occurred. Maximum temperature in shade, 66°; minimum, 31°.

Nelson. Unusually wet and squally for time of year; prevailing S.W. winds during first part, and N.E. during latter part of
month; maximum rain recorded on 16th, 1.56 in. Maximum temperature in shade, 66°; minimum, 33°.

Cape Campbell. Stormy weather from W. and N.W. prevailed; slight rain, though dull and cloudy; low barometer during
middle of month; cold towards end of month. Maximum temperature in shade, 72°; minimum, 40.4°.

Christchurch. Fine generally, with an occasional storm from S.W., from which quarter wind prevailed; the rain rather over
average; maximum recorded on 23rd, 67 in.; on 22nd, strong N.W. wind set in, increasing to gale on 23rd, then changed
to S.W. gale, with heavy rain and snow, flooding low parts of city; hail fell on 6th, 19th, and 24th; last part of month very
fine. Maximum temperature in shade, 70.8°; minimum, 29.1°.

Bealey. Wet and unpleasant throughout; excessive rainfall, the maximum occurring on 23rd, 5.10 in.; prevailing N. and N.W.
winds, and frequently strong, gales occurring on eleven days; three days thunder; five days snow, and fog on 20th.
Maximum temperature in shade, 55.8°; minimum, 26.0°.

Hokitika. Exceedingly wet month, twenty-three days rain; the maximum recorded on 23rd, 4.17 in.; strong N.W. and
S.W. winds prevailed, and very stormy; eight gales reported; thunder on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and hail on 2nd, 3rd, and 22nd.
Maximum temperature in shade, 60.9°; minimum, 34.4°.

Dunedin. Boisterous weather during early part, especially from 3rd to 6th, from S.W., with rain and snow on 5th and 6th ;
some bright pleasant weather at times, particularly at end of month; fog on 13th; maximum rain recorded 23rd, 1.200 in.
Maximum temperature in shade, 67°; minimum, 32°.

Queenstown. From 2nd to 10th very squally from S.W., with rain; showery up to 23rd, on which date the maximum fall was
recorded, 1.78 in.; fine remainder of month; thunder on 9th and 22nd; snow fell on 3rd, 4th, and 6th; fog on 3rd, 13th,
and 14th; prevailing N.W. and S.W. winds. Maximum temperature in shade, 66.2°; minimum, 33.3°.

Southland.-

GENERAL REMARKS.

The weather generally for this period was wet and stormy, the rainfall being greatly in excess, especially in the South and
on West Coast. Strong South and North-west winds prevailed, often amounting to gales, with heavy rain. Very low barometer during
middle of month, when the maximum rain occurred. Earthquakes reported by Observers, at New Plymouth on 23rd, at 8.2 p.m.,
smart; at Wellington on 3rd, 12.16 a.m., smart, and 5 a.m., slight; also on 13th, at 2 a.m., slight, and 25th, at 8 p.m., slight. By
Telegraph Department at New Plymouth, same time as above, described as heavy E. to W., lasting fifteen seconds, preceded by
rumbling. At Hawke's Bay, on 28th, at 6 p.m., heavy shake, travelling N. and S.; at Havelock, on 28th, at 6 a.m., slight.

J. HECTOR, Inspector.

Printed under the authority of the New Zealand Government, by GEORGE DIDSBURY, Government Printer, Wellington.