Nov. 4.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1579

ABSTRACT OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of August, 1880.

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

NOTES FOR AUGUST, 1880.

Mongonui.—Stormy weather; prevailing S.W. wind and heavy rain at commencement and latter part of month, 5.450 inches recorded on 6th, and 3.04 inches on 7th; six days of thunder.

Auckland.—Showery weather, but rain mostly at nights, total rain small, the maximum recorded on 12th, .55 in.; generally high wind chiefly from N.W. to S.W.; heavy S.E. gale on 7th; hail on 14th; thunder on 13th and 14th; fog on 11th.

New Plymouth.—Stormy and unsettled weather, chiefly from S.E.; thunder on 11th, 12th, 13th, and 21st; maximum rain recorded on 29th, 1.23 in.; hail on 13th.

Napier.—Unsettled weather, high wind at times prevailing from S.; maximum rain recorded on 1st, .43 in.

Wanganui.—Tolerably fine, generally dull in mornings and fine during day; some heavy showers, but of short duration; maximum fall recorded on 6th, .84 in.; prevailing N. and N.W. winds, and at times strong; thunder on 21st; hail on 12th and 14th.

*Wellington.—Generally showery, cold, unpleasant weather throughout; cold S.E. weather experienced at commencement and end of month; strong wind on 9th and 10th from N.W., and on 16th from S.E. with hail and thunder; severe gale on 20th and 21st, causing floods; maximum rainfall recorded on night of 11th and morning of 12th, causing floods; maximum rainfall recorded on 11th, .85 in.; prevailing S.E. and N.W. winds.

Nelson.—Generally fine weather, light showers, the maximum fall recorded on 11th, .85 in.; prevailing S.E. wind, and frequently strong.

Cape Campbell.—Fine dry weather, prevailing N.W. and S.E. winds, and strong.

Christchurch.—Commencement dull, with rain, until 20th, when a severe N.W. gale occurred, reaching at times almost a hurricane, no rain, considerable damage done during gale; remainder of month fine, with light showers, occasionally very cold; maximum rain recorded on 1st and 22nd, .29 in.; hail on 16th and 24th; fog on 9th; prevailing wind S.W., and moderate.

Bealey.—

Hokitika.—

Dunedin.—Very fine, except on 13th and 16th, when strong S.W. wind blew, with rain, and a severe gale on night of 19th from N.W.; snow on hills on 14th; prevailing W. wind; greatest rain recorded on 14th, .470 in.

Queenstown.—First part fine, with occasional showers; from 15th to 21st wet, with snow on hills; generally fine towards end; wind variable and moderate; thunder on four days; hail on 13th; fog on five days; maximum rain recorded on 22nd, .72 in.

Southland.—On the whole a fine month; severe frosts from 6th to 9th, but mean temperature above average; prevailing N.E. wind, and moderate; maximum rain recorded on 22nd, .57 in.; snow on 22nd; hail on 16th, 18th, and 20th.

Chatham Islands.—Showery and squally, with winds from S.W. and N.W.; no heavy gales or rain; the maximum rain recorded on 2nd, .60 in.; hail on 4th, 5th, and 31st.

GENERAL REMARKS.—About average weather for time of year, the winds rather high and chiefly from W.; a good deal of thunder; rain and temperature, on the whole, about the average. Earthquakes: Wellington, on 4th, at 2.57 a.m., two smart movements; Meteors, Mongonui, 19th, large; Dunedin on 2nd.

J. HECTOR,
Inspector of Meteorological Stations.