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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

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

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

NOTES FOR MAY, 1878.

Mongonui.—Generally fine, with moderate variable winds; greatest rain recorded on 12th, 94 in.; thunder on 16th.

Auckland.—Showery, but total rain not in excess; very fine days occasionally; cold during middle of month; heavy mists on 3rd, 8th,
and 31st; sharp thunder-storm early on 16th; wind chiefly S.W. and W., moderate; maximum rain registered on 12th, 98 in.;
fog on 3rd, 8th, and 31st.

Taranaki.—Showery at beginning and middle of month, otherwise fine; strong westerly winds from 11th to 18th; prevailing wind S.E.
and S.W.; greatest rain recorded on 12th, 1.09 in.

Napier.—Fine weather generally; maximum rain recorded on 8th, 76 in.; wind moderate and prevailed from South.

Wellington.—Tolerably fine weather with a few showers up to afternoon of 10th, when wind freshened from N.W., barometer falling;
heavy rain on 11th, 1:36 in. recorded on 12th, the maximum for month; very stormy from N.W. from 11th to 13th; severe gale, but
with little rain on latter date; on night of 15th strong gale with rain, thunder, and lightning; the remainder of month generally wet,
cold, and unpleasant from S.E., with an occasional fine day; snow on hills during middle of month; hail on 16th and 21st; fog on
26th; altogether a cold unpleasant month; prevailing S.E. and N.W. winds. The weather during May of last year was also
unusually cold and unpleasant, but with a greater rainfall—viz., 9.580 in. on twenty days.

Wanganui.—Tolerably fine but cold weather; rather showery during middle of month, maximum rain recorded on 27th, 36 in.; winds
prevailed from S.E. and W., strong from latter quarter on 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th.

Nelson.—Heavy rainfall in beginning and middle of month from 12th to 18th, accompanied by strong westerly winds, from which quarter
prevailed for month; maximum rainfall recorded on 1st, 1.08 in.

Cape Campbell.—An occasional shower; N.W. gale on 1st, changed to S. at night, fine up to 11; heavy gale on 12th with rain, and
stormy from W. and N.W. to 20th, changing to S.; cold and cloudy remainder of month; maximum rain recorded on 12th, 27 in.;
winds changeable and strong throughout.

Christchurch.—Generally fine weather up to 12th, when a N.W. gale occurred; 14th and 15th fine; S.W. gale early on 16th with rain;
fine weather with light showers from 17th to end, last few days very cold, frost continuing all day; maximum rain on 16th, 49 in.;
prevailing N.E. and S.W. winds; on the whole fine for time of year.

Bealey.—Fine up to 10th, only three wet days; from 10th to 17th very bad weather, heavy rain, gales, hail, snow, and thunder; 18th to
end very fine, but intensely cold; gale on five days, thunder on four days, snow on four days, hail on five days, and fog on eleven
days; prevailing winds N. and W.; on 12th, 247 in. rain recorded; 13th, 2-61 in.; 14th, 1.90 in.; and on 16th, 2-900 in., the maxi-
mum for month.

Hokitika.—Very wet up to 17th, and severe storms from 12th to that date, chiefly S.W.; on 12th wind registered 1,490 miles in twenty-
four hours, instrument damaged, no record for latter part of month; greatest rain recorded on 13th, 1'68 in., very stormy; and
thunder on 12th, 14th, 15th, and 17th; hail on 13th, 14th, and 15th; fog on 6th and 10th; latter part fine, with light easterly
winds.

Dunedin.—Changeable and showery, with occasional fine days; prevailing S.W. wind, and very strong on nights of 15th and 20th,
otherwise moderate; snow on 16th, 17th, and 18th; maximum rain recorded on 12th, 1.00 in.

Queenstown.—

Southland.—A wet cold month generally; changeable winds, very strong on 13th, 14th, 15th, and 18th, with thunder, chiefly S.W.; hail
also on 17th, 18th, and 19th; snow on 16th; maximum rain recorded on 16th, 1.60 in.

GENERAL REMARKS.

On the whole rain rather below the average; the temperature was lower than usual for time of year; very cold stormy weather
experienced at most of the stations with snow, and a good deal of thunder. A meteor seen in South on 7th, very brilliant.

J. HECTOR, Inspector.