1879.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1513

ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of APRIL, 1879.

STATIONS.

BAROMETER.
Corrected and Reduced to Sea Level.
Mean Reading | Extreme Range.

TEMPERATURE FROM SELF-REGISTERING INSTRUMENTS,
READ IN MORNING FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS PREVIOUSLY.
In Shade.
Mean Temp. | Mean Daily Range. | Extremes.
Max. Temp. | Min. Temp. | Range.
Max. Temp. in Sun's Rays. | Min. Temp. on Grass.

COMPUTED FROM OBSERVATIONS.
Mean Elastic Force of Vapour. | Mean Deg. of Moist. (Saturation =100.)

RAIN.
Total Fall in Month (inches) | No. of Days on which Rain fell.

WIND.
Average Daily Force in Miles for Month. | Maximum Velocity in Miles in any 24 hours, and Date.

CLOUD.
Mean Amount for Month (0 to 10)

MONGONUI ...
Previous 11 years
AUCKLAND ...
Previous 15 years
TARANAKI ...
Previous 15 years
NAPIER ...
Previous 12 years
WANGANUI ...
Previous 7 years
WELLINGTON ...
Previous 15 years
NELSON ...
Previous 15 years
CAPE CAMPBELL ...
Previous 5 years
CHRISTCHURCH ...
Previous 15 years
BEALEY ...
Previous 11 years
HOKITIKA ...
Previous 13 years
DUNEDIN ...
Previous 15 years
*QUEENSTOWN ...
Previous 7 years
SOUTHLAND ...
Previous 14 years
CHATHAM ISL. (WAITANGI)

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

NOTES FOR APRIL, 1879.

Mongonui.—Generally fine; greatest rainfall recorded on 4th, 3 in.; prevailing winds from E. and S.E.; strong on 3rd from E., and on 14th from N.W.; otherwise moderate.

Auckland.—Generally very fine; greatest rain registered on 15th, 1·50 in.; prevailing southerly winds, strong from 4th to 6th, otherwise light; heavy dews; from 6th to 13th, and 23rd to 29th, very clear sky; sheet-lightning on night of 24th.

Taranaki.—Very fine weather; prevailing S.E. winds; strong on 4th and 18th; otherwise moderate; maximum rain on 4th, 1·37 in.

Napier.—Unsettled, showery weather; wind prevailed from S. and moderate; maximum rain on 22nd, 2·38 in., falling during night of 21st; thunder on 22nd and 23rd.

Wanganui.—Fine, with moderate winds from S.E. and N.W.; strong breeze from S.W. on 1st and S.E. on 23rd; maximum rain on 4th, ·60 in.; frequently calm.

Wellington.—On 3rd, at night, a gale from N.W. with rain; 5th, stormy from N.W.; on night of 13th strong N.W. wind and rain; also 14th, wind and rain from N.W.; on 21st and 22nd stormy from S.E., with rain; otherwise the weather during the month was pleasant and bright, with prevailing N.W. and S.E. winds; the greatest rain recorded on 15th, ·930 in.

Nelson.—Generally fine clear weather, though occasionally heavy rain, the maximum on 15th, 1·57 in.; prevailing S.E. winds and moderate; on 4th, 5th, and 6th, strong S.W. winds, and strong from N.E. on 15th.

Cape Campbell.—A fine dry month, only one day of rain, ·20 in.; prevailing S.E. and N.W. winds, and stormy on nine days.

Christchurch.—Fine weather prevailed, with S.W., E., and N.E. winds; on 3rd and 4th stormy from N.W., and on 5th gale from S.W.; otherwise moderate winds; maximum rain recorded on 15th, ·52 in.

Bealey.—

Hokitika.—Heavy rain in beginning, middle, and end of month; remainder fine, but rather dull; maximum rain on 4th, 1·51 in.; strong S.W. winds on 3rd, 4th, and 5th, and from N.W. on 13th and 14th; general direction variable.

Dunedin.—Squally and changeable, but dry month; strong S.W winds on 3rd, 4th, and 5th; maximum rain recorded on 22nd, ·33 in.

Queenstown.—Remarkably fair, bright weather; greatest rain recorded on 4th, ·82 in.; prevailing N.W. winds and light, often calm; snow on hills 5th, 14th, 20th, 21st; fogs on 11th and 15th.

Southland.—Showery weather, but small total rainfall, the maximum recorded on 4th, ·52 in.; strong wind on 5th from S.W., and 11th and 14th from N.E.; otherwise moderate, and prevailed from S.W. and N.W.; thunder on 5th.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Very fine weather generally throughout; high barometer readings; temperature below the average, and small rainfall; winds on the whole moderate. Earthquake at Wellington, 24th, at 10.55 p.m., slight; Queenstown, 20th, at 12 p.m., slight.
J. HECTOR, Inspector.

Note.—Returns from this date have been unavoidably kept back owing to the non-receipt of some of the reports, their preparation having been delayed owing to alterations made at some of the stations. Returns from two stations are still wanting. The reports up to date will be published at once, in as complete a form as possible.