METEOROLOGICAL NOTES DURING THE YEAR 1898. 329 



The genial weather in the beginning of the month enabled the 

 late grain crops to be secured in excellent order, likewise benefit- 

 ing the root crops to a great extent, whilst the trees were later 

 in casting their leaves than usual. 



Owing to the absence of frost, the flowers in the parks had a 

 longer reign than usual, Dahlias being in bloom at the end of 

 the month. 



November. — Although somewhat rainy and unsettled, the first 

 three weeks of this month were mild and open. On the 2nd and 

 3rd, gales were experienced, accompanied by heavy rains, the 

 amouni; registered on these two mornings being r26 and 0-60 

 inches respectively. A heavy fog settled down over the city on 

 the 11th, and continued intermittently for three days. The 

 weather continued mild until the 23rd, when, with a sharp drop 

 of the barometer and the wind veering to the north-east, it 

 became much colder, and snow fell to the depth of a couple of 

 inches. The first frost of the season was registered on the 

 22nd, when the thermometer suddenlv fell to 22.° The follow- 

 ing days were dull and frosty, with fog on the 30th. The 

 total frost registered for six days was 43°. The barometric 

 pressure was varied and erratic, ranging from 30 to 28-70. 

 The rainfall for the month was 4*67 inches, with 18 dry days. 

 The maximum temperature was 46°, while the minimum was 37', 

 in both cases 3° lower than in the preceding November. 



Until the sharp frost on the 22nd, the freshness of the vege- 

 tation was remarkable, many tender plants blooming freely and 

 altogether out of season. 



December. — The weather of the month was changeable, and 

 gales from the north-west were experienced more or less through- 

 out it. On the 27th the storm reached its height, when it blew 

 a severe gale, causing considerable damage to property and 

 shipping. The barometer at this time reached the lowest reading 

 of the year, 28'30. The barometric pressure during the month 

 was extremely erratic, having a range of nearly two inches, the 

 highest being 30*20 on the 20th, and the lowest 2S'30 as already 

 stated. There was a notable absence of frost during the month, 

 onlv on four davs did the thermometer 2:0 below 32°, and recjister- 

 ing in all 17° of frost* The average maximum and minimum 

 temperatures were 48° and 40°, in both cases considerably higher, 



