1094
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 74

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

STATIONS. | BAROMETER. Corrected and Reduced to Sea Level. | TEMPERATURE FROM SELF-REGISTERING INSTRUMENTS, READ IN MORNING FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS PREVIOUSLY. | COMPUTED FROM OBSERVATIONS. | RAIN. | WIND. | CLOUD.

| Mean Reading | Extr'me Range. | Mean Temp. | In Shade. Extremes. Mean Daily Range. | Max. Temp. in Sun's Rays. | Min. Temp. | Range. | Mean Elastic Force of Vapour. | Mean Moist. Ration (Saturation = 100.) | Total Fall in Month (inches) | No. of Days on which Rain fell. | Average Maximum Daily Velocity in Miles for Month, and Date. | Mean Amount (0 to 10)

MONGONUI
Previous 12 years
AUCKLAND
Previous 16 years
TARANAKI
Previous 16 years
NAPIER
Previous 13 years
WANGANUI
Previous 8 years
WELLINGTON
Previous 16 years
NELSON
Previous 16 years
CAPE CAMPBELL
Previous 6 years
CHRISTCHURCH
Previous 16 years
*BEALEY
Previous 12 years
HOKITIKA
Previous 13 years
DUNEDIN
Previous 16 years
QUEENSTOWN
Previous 8 years
SOUTHLAND
Previous 15 years
CHATHAM ISL.?
(WAITANGI)
Previous year

NOTE.-Altitude of Bealey, 2,104 feet; Queenstown, 1,070 feet. The stations marked thus * are furnished with aneroid barometers only. † 11 years only. 7 years only.

NOTES FOR MAY, 1880.

Mongonui.-Showery, unpleasant, with strong winds in early part; 5 days of thunder and 3 of hail; wind N.W. and S.W.; maximum rainfall recorded on 11th, 960 in. Some fine weather during latter part, though at times showery and squally; prevailing winds S.W. and N.W.

Auckland.-Very showery; maximum rain recorded on 11th, 89 in.; wind generally W. and N.W., and at times strong, especially from 5th to 7th, and 10th to 13th; slight thunder on 11th, 12th, and 13th; often clear sky between showers.

Taranaki.-A very wet month; prevailing S.E. and S.W. winds; gales from N.W. on 10th, 11th, and 12th, from S.W. on 17th and 19th, and from S.E. on 28th; maximum rain recorded on 26th, 1.25 in.

Napier.-Generally fine; occasionally showery in middle and end of month, chiefly at nights; the maximum rainfall recorded on 6th, 65 in.; moderate winds prevailed from S. and S.W.

Wanganui.-Showery, cold, and dull weather, with an occasional fine day, but cold; maximum rain registered on 6th, 1.23 in.; prevailing N.W. winds, and during middle period strong; thunder on 16th; fog on 1st and 2nd.

Wellington.-Tolerably fine up to night of 8th, when it came on to blow a gale from N.W., and continued strong to 11th; heavy rain recorded on 12th, 1.75 in., the maximum fall for month, also 1.20 in. on 13th; fine then until 19th, when it blew strong from N.W., and severe gale in the night, with heavy showers; also stormy on 20th; generally showery up to 27th 28th and 29th, fine from S.E., and 30th and 31st dull, cold, and damp from same quarter; prevailing N.W. winds; thunder on night of 11th, and lightning on 18th.

Nelson.-Fine early and latter part, but very heavy rain during middle of month; 2.28 in. recorded on 11th, the maximum for month; prevailing N.E. and S.E. winds and moderate, except on 9th, 10th, and 12th.

Cape Campbell.--

Christchurch.-Cold wintry weather, with hard frosts, and generally fine; maximum rain on 6th, 77 in.; prevailing N.E., E., and S.W. winds, and gales from the latter quarter on 6th, 14th, 21st, and 22nd; snow on 14th, and hail on 6th.

Bealey.-Very wet, with an occasional fine day; greatest rainfall recorded on 20th, 1.580 in.; prevailing N.W. winds and gales on four days; thunder on 19th and 20th; snow on 16th; fogs on nine days.

Hokitika.-A very stormy wet month, with prevailing N.W. and S.W. winds and frequent gales; eight days of thunder; snow on 17th; hail on eight days, and fog on 10th; maximum rain recorded on 11th, 1.87 in.

Dunedin.-Very wet month; the maximum rainfall recorded on 21st, 1.354 in.; prevailing S.W. winds and stormy on 6th, otherwise moderate; fog on 25th.

Queenstown.-Cold and wet month; very stormy on 9th from N.W., with heavy rain; prevailing N.W. winds and moderate; snow fell on hills on eleven days; fog on nine days; hard frosts towards end of month.

Southland.-Cold and very wet month; maximum rainfall on 10th, 1.10 in.; prevailing S.W. and N.W. winds and stormy on six days; thunder and hail on 17th, 18th, and 19th

Chatham Islands.-

GENERAL REMARKS.-Generally stormy, wet, and unpleasant weather experienced throughout during this period, with much thunder and hail at several stations; in most places the rain was greatly in excess, but the temperature was generally high; the atmospheric pressure was low throughout. Earthquakes reported at Wanganui on 9th, two shakes, at 8 p.m. and 8.10 p.m., smart; at Queenstown on 4th, at 4.45 a.m., and on 27th, at 11.30 a.m., both slight.

J. HECTOR,
Inspector of Meteorological Stations.