224
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

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

STATIONS.
BAROMETER.
Corrected and Reduced to Sea Level.
Mean Reading | Ext'rne 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 12 years
AUCKLAND ...
Previous 14 years
TARANAKI ...
Previous 14 years
NAPIER ...
Previous 10 years
WELLINGTON ...
Previous 14 years
WANGANUI ...
Previous 6 years
NELSON ...
Previous 14 years
CAPE CAMPBELL
Previous 4 years
CHRISTCHURCH
Previous 14 years
BEALEY ...
Previous 10 years
HOKITIKA ...
Previous 12 years
DUNEDIN ...
Previous 14 years
*QUEENSTOWN
Previous 6 years
SOUTHLAND ...
Previous 13 years

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

NOTES FOR OCTOBER, 1878.

Mongonui.—Rain in excess, but fell principally during night, generally fine during days; maximum fall of rain recorded on 2nd, 1·51 in.; wind prevailed from Westward and North, strong on 11th and 12th; fog on 10th.

Auckland.—Showery with fresh breezes from S.W. and W., strong on 3rd and 19th; maximum rain recorded on 27th, 1·190 in., very heavy shower; thunder on 12th heavy, rather cool weather for time of year.

Taranaki.—Stormy unpleasant weather, chiefly S.W. and W., very dull; fog on 10th; maximum rain registered on 20th, 1·02 in.

Napier.—Occasional showers early part, latter period very dry; greatest rainfall recorded on 2nd, ·51 in.; prevailing N.E. wind; strong N.W. wind on 12th.

Wellington.—First three days fine; on 4th and 5th wet from S.E.; fine from 6th to 8th; stormy on 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th from N.W.; heavy rain on night of 11th; fine 13th and 14th; 15th and 16th strong N.W. winds; 17th and 18th fine; fine day on morning of 19th, but towards night very threatening, and very heavy rain, wind changing to S.E.; 2·20 in. rain recorded on 20th, the maximum for month, all falling during night of 19th; dull cold S.E. on 20th; fine on 21st, with fresh westerly breeze; stormy from N.W. on 22nd; tolerably fine on 23rd; stormy on 24th from N.W., with rain at night; fine but strong N.W. wind on 25th and 26th; cold showery S.E. on 27th; fine for remainder of month. Altogether an unpleasant, stormy, showery month.

Wanganui.—Showery generally, prevailing W. and N.W. wind; stormy on 12th, 13th, 27th, and 28th; maximum rain recorded on 27th, ·98 in.; occasional fine clear days.

Nelson.—Heavy rain in middle and towards end of month, otherwise fine, though stormy at times from N.W. and S.W.; maximum rain recorded on 20th, 2·34 in.

Cape Campbell.—Strong S. and S.E. winds and cloudy showery weather up to 7th; then strong N.W. winds and fine; hazy up to 20th; maximum rain recorded on 20th, ·69 in.

Christchurch.—Generally fine, with occasional days when wind blew strongly from N.E. and N.W.; storms with thunder and hail on 4th and 17th, of short duration; maximum rain recorded on 18th, ·40 in.; prevailing wind N.E. and S.W., and strong on 1st, 17th, 23rd, 25th, and 26th.

Bealey.—Wet, gloomy weather, with an occasional fine day; greatest rainfall recorded on 12th, 4·500 in.; thunder storm on 9th; hail on 22nd and 27th; fog 6th and 27th; gales on seven days; prevailing winds from N. and N.W., and very strong.

Hokitika.—Showery stormy weather with prevailing S.W. and N.W. winds, and strong; maximum rain on 31st, 1·92 in.; thunder on 20th, 25th, 26th, and 27th; hail on 20th and 26th.

Dunedin.—Showery and changeable, with prevailing N.E. wind, very strong on 11th; maximum rain recorded on 10th, ·95 in.; thunder on 20th; hail on 21st.

Queenstown.—Very variable; tolerably fine up to 9th, when there was a gale from N.E., after which steady rain set in, and snow on hills; showery until 27th, and remainder of month fine; gale on 24th from N.W.; snowing on hills on seven days; fog on 10th and 31st; maximum rain recorded on 11th, 1·47 in.; prevailing N.W. wind.

Southland.—Showery and windy month; wind from S.W. and N.W.; stormy on 12th, 25th, and 29th; warm during first part of month; maximum rain recorded on 22nd, ·35 in.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Wet stormy S.W. and N.W. weather generally prevailed throughout during this month.

Earthquakes: Wellington, on 21st, at 10.55 p.m., sharp, followed by slighter shocks; at Wanganui, on 21st, at 11 p.m., slight rumble; at Nelson, on 21st, sharp shock at 10.55 p.m., also at 11.45 p.m., another movement; Cape Campbell, on 21st, at 11.15 p.m., sharp, and on 27th, at 3.30 a.m., slight; Christchurch, on 21st, at 11 p.m.; Hokitika, on 21st, at 11 p.m., slight; Queenstown, at midnight, slight. Meteors observed at Mongonui on 31st, and at Christchurch on 30th.

J. HECTOR, Inspector.