METEOROLOGICAL NOTES DURING THE YEAR 1895. 95 



and many crops which were in a backward condition made excel- 

 lent progress during the month. 



September. — There was a marked difference in the character of 

 the weather during September from that of the previous month. 

 Despite two or three rainy days and occasional high winds, the 

 weather throughout the month was comparatively dry and sunny, 

 and almost as agreeable as the phenomenally fine weather which 

 characterised September, 1894. The rainfall amounted to 1*40 

 inches, and there were 24 dry days. The temperature kept high, 

 and the maximum thermometer in shade was at or above 70° on 

 several occasions, while during the last week of the month, when 

 the weather was close and sultry, that figure was reached three 

 times. Only once during the month was the maximum below 60°, 

 while the minimum was only once below 40", something unusual 

 for September. The averages, therefore, were high, the maximum 

 being 63° and the minimum 49°, against 58° and 42° respectively 

 for corresponding month of 1894. 



On the night of the 9th a notable thunderstorm was experienced, 

 when the display of sheet lightning was remarkably brilliant. 

 This was followed by heavy rain and high winds for two days. 

 It was on the occasion of that storm that the barometric readings 

 showed any special depression, dropping from 29*87 on the 9th 

 to 29*10 on the 11th. The rise in pressure was equally rapid, 

 and, excepting a short sudden fall on the 18th, when another 

 sharp gale was experienced, the pressure, with slight variations, 

 was about 30 inches. The winds were from west and south-west 

 all month, excepting the last two days, when they were easterly. 



The fine weather experienced during the month proved very 

 beneficial to all crops, and harvesting operations were seldom 

 checked. The grain crops generally were secured in excellent 

 condition throughout the country. 



October. — After the 1st, which was warm and foggy, there was 

 a sudden and severe chansje in the weather. With a chancre in 

 the wind from east to west the barometer sharply fell from 29*50 

 on the 1st to 28*80 on the 2nd, and rain set in, falling heavily on 

 the 2nd and 3rd, and continuing almost daily until the 16th ; 

 thereafter, until the end of the month, the weather was more 

 settled, but colder. 



The amount of rainfall recorded was 2*95 inches, while there 



