THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 385

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

NOTE.—Altitude of Bealey, 2,104 feet; Queenstown, 1,070 feet.

• The stations marked thus * are furnished with aneroid barometers only. † 10 years only. ‡ 11 years only.

NOTES FOR JANUARY, 1878.

Mongonui.—Fine weather with prevailing westerly winds, strong on 6th, 7th, 17th, and from eastward on 21st; thunder on 7th; maxi-
mum rain recorded on 6th, 1.12 in.

Auckland.—Weather cool and windy; gales from S. and S.W. on 5th, 8th, and 13th, but not severe; rain above average, the maximum
recorded on 6th and 17th, 1.125 in.; thunder on 17th and 24th, accompanied by hail on 24th; prevailing S.W. and W. winds.

Taranaki.—Rather showery, but total rain small, the maximum fall recorded on 17th, 60 in.; prevailing S.W. winds, strong on 5th and
22nd.

Napier.—Pleasant weather with occasional rain, generally light, the maximum rainfall registered on 7th, 1.48 in.; wind prevailed from
N.E. and high storms; strong N.W. wind on 16th, and from the South on 23rd; on 8th severe thunder storm.

Wellington.—Tolerably fine early part of month, though heavy rain on night of 6th, 90 inches recorded on 7th, the maximum for month;
very strong N.W. wind on 14th, 15th, and 16th, with rain on the two last dates; showery between 20th and 26th, with cold easterly
weather; fog on 20th; towards end of month the weather was very cold for the time of year.

Wanganui.—

Nelson.—Fine weather, but with strong westerly winds; maximum rain recorded on 22nd, 74 in.

Cape Campbell.—Cloudy weather with strong S.E. and N.W. winds, often reaching gales; showery, the maximum rain recorded on 22nd,
25 in.; thunder on 18th.

Christchurch.—Frequent storms of great violence have occurred in this district, doing considerable damage. It was fine to 4th, when a
heavy hailstorm occurred with thunder; also hail and thunder on 6th, wind N.E.; unsettled until 12th, when there was a S.W.
storm with rain and thunder; weather continued stormy from N.W. and S.W.; on 16th a violent N.W. gale of short duration took
place with rain; remainder of month more settled, but at times windy; on 16th the barometer fell from 29.444 to 28.937; maximum
rain recorded on 22nd, 1.20; prevailing wind N.E. and S.W.

Bealey.—Tolerably fine though unlike summer weather, frequent showers and cold at times; maximum rain recorded on 16th, 3.77 in. ;
thunder on 15th and 16th; hail on 15th, and fog on 26th; gales on eight days chiefly from North; prevailing winds N. and N.W.,
and strong.

Hokitika.—Showery until 22nd, when it cleared off, and fine remainder of month; maximum rain recorded on 22nd, 1.87 in.; strong
westerly wind on 14th, with rain; very strong S.W. gale on 15th and 16th, with hail and rain, 1,261 miles of wind registered on 16th
for previous 24 hours, barometer 29.139; thunder on 6th and 17th, hail also on 17th; prevailing S.W. wind.

Dunedin.—Showery and unpleasant until 23rd, then fine for rest of month; prevailing S.W. winds, strong on 9th and 13th; maximum
rain recorded on 6th, 1.44 in.

Queenstown.—First part cold, showery, and stormy; wind S.W. and N.W., from which quarter it prevailed; cleared up on 23rd, and fine
remainder of month; maximum rain recorded on 16th, 95 in.; snow on hills on 5th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 21st; also on low ground
on 15th; fog on 6th, 10th, and 17th.

Southland.—Up to 23rd the weather was cold, stormy, and wet; prevailing westerly winds, stormy on five days; maximum rain recorded
on 16th, 1.16 in.; last part of month finer.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The weather throughout for this month has been unusually cold, wet, and boisterous for the time of year; frequent S.W. gales of
violence have occurred, accompanied with thunder and hail, and the temperature has been considerably lower than the average, generally
4º and 5º below, altogether it was a very unseasonable month. Earthquake at Queenstown on 15th at 8:45 p.m., slight.

J. HECTOR, Inspector.