THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1867

ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of SEPTEMBER, 1878.

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

NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1878.

Mongonui. On the whole fine weather; the maximum rain recorded on 14th and 21st, 40 in.; from 24th to 30th weather dull and close
but fine; prevailing N.W. winds; no gales occurred.

Auckland. Generally warm genial weather, with moderate average wind and variable; small total rainfall, the maximum fall registered
on 27th, 995 in.; thunder on 27th; dense fog on night of 27th.

Taranaki. Showery dull weather, but not unpleasant for time of year; maximum rain recorded on 21st, 1.34 in.; fog on 21st and 27th,
prevailing N.E. and S.W. wind; stormy on 4th and 5th from latter quarter, and on 10th from S.E.

Napier. Generally fine, occasional showers during middle of month; greatest rainfall recorded on 22nd, 33 in.; winds prevailed from
northward and moderate; westerly gale on night of 4th; fog on 10th, 11th, 13th, 17th, and 18th, clearing off in morning except 17th,
which lasted thick all day.

Wellington. Fine first two days; 3rd, stormy from N.W., and 4th, stormy and rain same quarter; 5th and 6th, fine; 7th and 8th, dull
and wet N.W., and 9th and 10th wet, and strong wind, S.E. and S.W.; 2.100 in. rain recorded on 10th, the maximum for month;
dull and foggy on 11th, S.E.; fine from 12th to 23rd from N.W., except on 20th when it rained; 24th and 25th, very stormy from
N.W., 1.30 in. rain recorded on 26th, stormy also remainder of month; prevailing N.W. wind, and on the whole stormy unpleasant
weather, with rainfall over the average.

Wanganui. Showery early part, and towards end of month, otherwise fine weather; maximum rainfall recorded on 8th, 40 in.; pre-
vailing N.W. wind; stormy on 5th, 6th, 25th, and 26th.

Nelson. Generally fine, though rather stormy towards end of month; the greatest rainfall recorded on 8th, 1.09 in.; prevailing N. and
N.E. wind and strong on 25th, and 26th, also on 29th and 30th from N.W.

Cape Campbell. N.W. gales and strong winds almost every day throughout the month, and very dry weather; the maximum rainfall
recorded on 9th, 33 in.; only two days of rain.

Christchurch. First few days fine and frosty; on 4th gale from N.W., also stormy on 5th, same quarter; fine until 8th, 9th, and 10th,
which were wet and stormy from S.W.; fine then until 24th, when a hot wind came from N.W., lasting until 27th; floods in snow
rivers and much damage done; maximum rain recorded on 10th, 31 in.; winds variable and generally moderate, except during the
north-wester at the end.

Bealey. --

Hokitika. Very wet and stormy weather almost throughout, with prevailing S.W. and W. winds; maximum rain recorded on 8th,
4.65 in.; thunder on five days; fog on seven days; altogether a severe month.

Dunedin. Showery weather, especially on 8th, 9th, and 29th, the maximum recorded on 9th 880 in.; prevailing wind N.E.; strong on
6th from W.; snow on 5th, fog on 8th; some fine pleasant days.

Queenstown. Generally fine up to 20th, when wet weather set in and continued to end of month; very heavy rain on 24th, 25th, and
28th, the maximum recorded on 29th, 3.71 in.; thunder on 22nd, 24th, and 25th; snow on hills 4th and 5th; fog on 8th and 21st;
the heaviest floods yet recorded in the district during the latter part of month; prevailing N.W. winds and moderate.

Southland. Showery weather generally, but heavy rain towards end of month, causing remarkable floods; the maximum rain recorded on
29th, 1.25 in.; prevailing N.W. winds, and at times strong; snow and hail on 6th.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Very high barometer readings throughout, and high temperature; in the North rain rather below the average, but in the South in
excess, which, combined with the flooding of the snow rivers, owing to the hot N.W. winds and warm rain, caused considerable damage to
several districts in the South.

Earthquakes: On 14th, at Wellington, 5 a.m., slight; Kaikoura, 4.45 a.m., smart; Nelson, same time, smart; Westport, 4.40 a.m.,
smart; Lyttelton, at 4.50 a.m., also smart; Cape Campbell, at 4.30 a.m., smart; Christchurch, at 4:30 a.m., S. to N.; also on 30th, felt at
Rangiora, from E. to W.

J. HECTOR, Inspector.