1546
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
Ост. 30

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

| STATIONS. | BAROMETER. Corrected and Reduced to Sea Level. | TEMPERATURE FROM SELF-REGISTERING INSTRUMENTS, READ IN MORNING FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS PREVIOUSLY. | | In Shade. | Extremes. | | | COMPUTED FROM OBSERVATIONS. | RAIN. | WIND. | CLOUD. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Mean Reading | Extr'me Range. | Mean Temp. | Mean Daily Range. | Max. Temp. | Min. Temp. | Range. | Max. Temp. in Sun's Rays. | Min. Temp. on Grass. | Mean Elastic Force of Vapour. | Deg. of Moist. (Saturation = 100.) | Total Fall in Month (inches) | No. of Days on which Rain fell. | Average Daily Velocity in Miles for Month. | Maximum Force in Miles for 24 hours, and Date. | Mean Amount (0 to 10) |
| MONGONUI | 29-888 | 863 | 61.2 | 11.8 | 74.0 | 46.0 | 28.0 | ... | ... | 439 | 82 | 7.150 | 20 | 186 | 497,18th | 7.6 |
| Previous 11 years | 30.013 | | | | | | | | | 414 | 81 | 5.812 | 14 | 265 | 523,10th | 7.7 |
| AUCKLAND | 29-918 | 731 | 58.3 | 10.5 | 69.5 | 43.6 | 25.9 | 117.4 | 39.3 | 402 | 82 | 6.770 | 19 | 194 | 350,29th | 6.3 |
| Previous 15 years | 29-985 | | | | | | | | | 389 | 81 | 3.884 | 19 | | | |
| TARAÑAKI | 29-920 | 770 | 57.5 | 11.5 | 70.0 | 40.0 | 30.0 | 127.0 | 33.0 | 377 | 81 | 5.990 | 13 | 159 | 475,11th | 5.0 |
| Previous 15 years | 29-975 | | | | | | | | | 336 | 75 | 6.160 | 16 | | | |
| NAPIER | 29-953 | 857 | 57.0 | 9.6 | 69.0 | 44.0 | 25.0 | 115.0 | 34.0 | 371 | 80 | 2.577 | 9 | 148 | 520,11th | 6.0 |
| Previous 12 years | 29-945 | | 54.9 | | | | | | | 340 | 75 | 2.577 | 9 | | | |
| WANGANUI | 30-070 | 730 | 54.4 | 18.5 | 72.0 | 37.0 | 35.0 | 130.0 | 30.0 | 310 | 74 | 2.040 | 13 | 148 | 520,11th | 6.0 |
| Previous 7 years | 30-055 | 52.7 | | | | | | | | 299 | 73 | 4.395 | 12 | | | |
| WELLINGTON | 29-986 | 1.009 | 54.6 | 8.4 | 70.2 | 41.0 | 29.2 | 110.0 | 34.0 | 360 | 84 | 3.731 | 23 | 151 | 330,11th | 6.1 |
| Previous 15 years | 29-931 | 52.8 | | | | | | | | 302 | 76 | 4.508 | 14 | | | |
| NELSON | 29-929 | 912 | 54.1 | 16.1 | 70.0 | 37.0 | 33.0 | 108.0 | ... | 345 | 82 | 1.750 | 9 | 119 | 191,12th | 5.5 |
| Previous 15 years | 29-902 | 51.1 | | | | | | | | 338 | 78 | 6.318 | 8 | | | |
| CAPE CAMPBELL | 30-090 | 880 | 55.7 | 7.3 | 66.0 | 46.0 | 20.0 | ... | ... | 317 | 84 | 2.180 | 10 | 446 | 1,200, on 8.8 |
| Previous 5 years | 30-050 | 55.1 | | | | | | | | 277 | 82 | 1.946 | 8 | | | |
| CHRISTCHURCH | 29-999 | 1.042 | 51.1 | 12.1 | 72.6 | 31.1 | 41.5 | 112.0 | 26.2 | 315 | 80 | 9.872 | 13 | 99 | 250,11th | 8.2 |
| Previous 15 years | 29-917 | 47.8 | | | | | | | | 224 | 81 | 8.580 | 15 | | | |
| *BEALEY | 29-873 | | 42.6 | | | | | | | | | 10.943 | 15 | | | |
| HOKITIKA | 29-917 | 1.000 | 52.6 | 14.7 | 65.0 | 34.0 | 31.0 | 120.5 | 31.5 | 342 | 86 | 1.089 | 12 | 139 | 340,26th | 6.0 |
| Previous 13 years | 29-988 | 49.8 | | | | | | | | 285 | 82 | 3.868 | 13 | | | |
| DUNEDIN | 29-945 | 1.086 | 49.1 | 9.8 | 65.0 | 35.0 | 30.0 | 80.0 | 32.0 | 237 | 77 | 760 | 10 | | | 5.7 |
| Previous 15 years | 29-845 | 47.1 | | | | | | | | 237 | 77 | 760 | 10 | | | |
| #QUEENSTOWN | 29-880 | 670 | 45.6 | 13.7 | 60.5 | 29.2 | 31.3 | ... | | 241 | 79 | 4.284 | 11 | 104 | 309,10th | 7.0 |
| Previous 7 years | 30-049 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| SOUTHLAND | 29-920 | 1.110 | 48.0 | 18.0 | 70.0 | 22.0 | 48.0 | 108.0 | 14.0 | 263 | 79 | 1.230 | 13 | | | |
| Previous 14 years | 29-858 | 46.1 | | | | | | | | 255 | 82 | 4.986 | 17 | 195 | 673,26th | 5.8 |
| CHATHAM ISL. | 29-840 | 1.300 | 52.8 | 8.2 | 59.5 | 37.0 | 22.5 | ... | ... | 347 | 86 | 3.640 | 15 | 195 | 673,26th | 5.8 |
| (WAITANGI) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

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

NOTES FOR MAY, 1879.

Mongonui. Fine early part, and an occasional fine day during month, but generally wet weather; greatest rainfall recorded on 27th,
1.9 in.; prevailing N.E. winds, and moderate, except on 18th.

Auckland. Showery and unsettled in beginning of month; fair from 12th to 17th, then stormy from N.E. and S.W., also stormy from
S.W. on 9th and 10th; prevailing wind from N.E. and E.; excessive rain, especially towards latter part; the maximum fall recorded
on 20th, 2.01 in.

Taranaki.-Fine winter weather, though cold and dull; the latter part very wet; the maximum rain recorded on 19th, 2.25 in.; prevailing
S.E. wind; stormy on 2nd, 3rd, and 29th.

Napier.-Heavy rain at commencement and end, but fine during middle of month; maximum rain recorded on 8th, 3.46 in.; southerly
winds prevailed, and moderate, except on 11th; rainfall greatly in excess of average.

Wanganui. Showery, but no heavy falls of rain, the greatest recorded on 20th and 31st, 48 in.; at times pleasant; strong N.W. gale on
11th; winds prevailed from S.W. and N.W., and generally moderate.

Wellington. Wet unpleasant weather throughout, with prevailing S.E. wind, but generally moderate and not as cold as usual; the maxi-
mum rain recorded on 5th, 850 in.; an occasional fine day; fog on 7th and 8th.

Nelson. A fine month with prevailing S.E. and S.W. winds, and light; fog on 16th, 17th, and 20th; greatest rainfall recorded on 25th,
62 in.

Cape Campbell.-Showery, with prevailing S.E. and N.W. winds and strong on six days; maximum rain recorded on 6th, 1 in.; very
cloudy almost throughout.

Christchurch. Dull winter weather, showery and heavy dews; occasionally fine; latter part very calm; frosty on fine mornings; pre-
vailing winds, E. and S.W.; maximum rain recorded on 19th, 23 in.

Bealey.-

Hokitika. Fine at beginning and end of month, but wet for remainder; the maximum rain recorded on 22nd, 1.09 in.; prevailing
E. and N.W. winds; strong from S.W. on 9th and 10th, and from 23rd to 26th from N.W.; fog on 13th and 19th.

Dunedin. Changeable weather, but small rain; the maximum recorded on 5th, 43 in.; prevailing wind from N.E., and moderate; fog
on 16th, 17th, 24th, and 25th; hail on 8th.

Queenstown. Remarkably calm and fine almost throughout; maximum rain registered on 9th, 24 in.; fogs on six days; snow fell on
hills on 5th and 8th; prevailing N.W. winds.

Southland. A fine calm dry month; early part very warm; last few nights severe frosts; maximum rain on 10th, 39 in.; prevailing
N.E. winds; fog on 31st.

Waitangi, Chathams. Showery weather with an occasional fine day; greatest rain recorded on 11th, 90 in.; prevailing N.E. winds,
strong on 26th.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The rainfall at northerly stations was in excess, but, otherwise, below average for time of year; the temperature throughout was above
the average, and, on the whole, the weather was fine for this period; a strong southerly wind occurred at most stations about the 11th;
the amount of cloud was unusually high throughout. Earthquakes at Wellington on 3rd, between 2 and 3 a.m., slight; and on 25th, at
12.16 p.m., N.W. to S.E., slight; at Cape Campbell on 3rd, at 2 a.m.; Waitanga on 9th, at 1 a.m.

J. HECTOR, Inspector.