METEOROLOGICAL NOTES DURING THE YEAR 1895. 101 



In comparing the barometric records with those of the previous 

 year, we find that the pressure has been somewhat lower. In 

 1894 the pressure was over 30 inches on eighty-one days, and 

 under 29 inches on eighteen days ; whilst during 1895 it was only 

 sixty-four times above 30 inches, and twenty-six times below 29 

 inches. As in the previous two years, the highest reading was 

 30'-40 inches, which occurred on 2nd January, and 3rd, 4th, 6th, 

 and 7th May. The lowest reading was 28-50 inches on the 28th 

 IMarch, while in 1894 the lowest was 28-40 on 25th October. 



The points from which winds blew throughout the year were as 

 follows :— From the S.W., 96; KE., 79; W., 77;"e., 41; S., 

 29 ; N.W., 29 ; S.E., 10 ; and K, 4 days. Excluding the direct 

 north and south, the western group shows 192, and the eastern 

 130 times. In 1894 the western had 205, against 138 for the 

 eastern group. 



Summarising the foregoing notes, the weather of 1895, com- 

 pared with that of the preceding year, was, in many respects, of a 

 totally divergent character. Eor example, the early months of 

 1894 were characterised by a heavy rainfall, and a comparative 

 absence of frost, with many sunless days, whereas, in 1895, the 

 frost was intense in January and February, while the rainfall of 

 the first seven months was less than the amount which fell in 

 Februarv, 1894. Further, durinf; Mav there was an entire 

 absence of frost, and the many days of bright sunshine were in 

 marked contrast to the conditions experienced in the correspond- 

 ing month of 1894, when the weather, besides being sunless and 

 unsettled, was accompanied by a disastrous frost. The conditions 

 approaching in similarity were the rains in August, and the heat 

 in September, followed by stormy unsettled weather in the closing 

 months of the year. 



Apart from the damage done to trees, shrubs, <tc., by the 

 frosts of Januarv and February, the season on the whole was 

 favourable for vegetation. The soil being well pulverised by the 

 action of the frost, the tilling and cropping operations were 

 accomplished under satisfactory conditions, on account of the 

 favourable weather which prevailed when these operations were 

 performed. Progress in growth, however, was somewhat slow 

 owing to the prevalence of the drying winds and heat during May 

 and June, and until the rain in July some anxiety was felt for 



