THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 901

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

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

NOTES FOR MARCH, 1878.

Mongonui.—Very fine and dry, maximum rain recorded on 10th, ·03 in.; winds variable and moderate.

Auckland.—Generally cool and dull, with high barometer; slight rainfall, the maximum on 22nd, ·22 in.; winds moderate, prevailing from S. and S.W.

Taranaki.—Generally fine; rain about the average, the maximum fall on 9th, ·74 in.; strong S.W. winds from 2nd to 5th, and from 9th to 11th, with rain; fog on 9th and 26th.

Napier.—Remarkably fine and dry; greatest rain recorded on 5th, ·14 in.; on 3rd and 4th blew hard from W. and N.W., and on night of 5th squally S.W. weather; winds variable and generally moderate.

Wanganui.—Showery from 4th to 11th from westward, and strong winds on 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 11th; generally fine for remainder of month; maximum rainfall recorded on 10th, ·38 in.; prevailing westerly winds.

Wellington.—Very dry weather during the month, the maximum rain recorded on 10th, ·45 in.; almost constant N.W. wind and generally strong, especially on 8th, 9th, 16th, 17th, 21st, and 24th, on the night of 9th reaching a gale, with rain; on the 4th S.E. storm, with rain and hail, also stormy on 5th from same quarter; towards end of month the weather more pleasant.

Nelson.—Very fine throughout, little rain, the maximum on 9th, ·87 in.; strong S.W. wind on 2nd, 3rd, and 18th, and from N. on 19th, otherwise moderate and variable.

Cape Campbell.—Dry hazy weather, slight rain falling on two days, the maximum on 5th, ·17 in.; strong breezes and gales, chiefly from N.W.; heavy dews.

Christchurch.—Very fine month, only three stormy days—namely, on 4th and 5th from S.W., with little rain, and on 17th from N.W. it blew a gale, without rain; latter part of month sultry; maximum rainfall on 12th, ·18 in.; prevailing N. and S.W. wind.

Bealey.—Tolerably fine, rain about the average, the maximum recorded on 17th, 1·64 in.; gales on eight days, chiefly from N. and N.W., from which quarter it prevailed, and generally strong; thunder on 21st; fog on 7th.

Hokitika.—With the exception of a few days the weather was very wet and stormy, with prevailing S.W. winds, very strong on 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th, and 18th; the maximum rain recorded on 16th, 2·63 inches; thunder on 21st; fog on eight days.

Dunedin.—Generally wet unpleasant weather, though at times fine and bright; maximum rain recorded on 4th, 2·10 inches; prevailing S.W. winds and cold; stormy on 1st and 17th from westward; fog on 16th.

Queenstown.—Changeable throughout; wet, unpleasant weather on 8th, 9th, 21st, and 28th from N.W.; maximum rain recorded on 10th, ·87 in.; snow fell on hills on five days.

Southland.—Stormy and wet month, with prevailing westerly wind, and often strong; the maximum rain recorded on 4th and 10th, ·87 in.; hail on 5th.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Except at the Southern stations, the rainfall was much below the average, and fine weather experienced. In the South, however, it was at times severe, and excessively wet and stormy. An earthquake was reported at Hokitika on 11th at 9·35 p.m., slight.

J. HECTOR, Inspector.