Mm/ 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.JF. 421 



disturbance. As the result of this distribution fresh to strong N.E. and 

 E winds and patches of rough sea occurred around the south-eastern sea- 

 board of the continent. More heavy rains were recorded over Queensland, 

 (,'enii-al Australia, and South Australia. In New South Wales the heaviest 

 falls were reported from coastal districts ; Tweed Heads had, 228 points, 

 Maitland 214, Lismore 148, Raymond Terrace 126, Woolgoolga 119, and 

 Byron Bay 111 points. 



On the 7th two high pressures were shown on the chart ; one covering 

 the south-eastern States and portion of Queensland, and the other over 

 the south-west corner of the continent, whilst between there were two 

 depressions, the monsoonal and an antarctic. These pressure systems controlled 

 the weather of Australia until the 14th, and covered practically the same 

 area and maintained their respective characteristics throughout. Pulsations, 

 however, occurred in their central isobars. The centre of the " high " over 

 the S.W. portion of Australia lost two-tenths of an inch between the 8th and 

 lOth, and gained three-tenths during the following twenty-four hours. The 

 monsoonal depression would extend southwards to Wilcannia, and northwards 

 again to Cajie York Peninsula. 



At 9 a.m on the 13th, the rear portion of a cyclonic storm was shown 

 between Rockhampton and Mackay, where high seas, strong S.E. to easterly 

 winds, and heavy rainfall were recorded. The lowest barometer reading 

 occurred at St. Lawrence, north of Rockhampton, where prior to 9 a.m. it 

 .stood at 29'33 inches. Between the 7th and 13th, lighcto heavy rainfall was 

 recorded over the greater part of Queensland, and light to moderate in South 

 Australia and Tasmania ; elsewhere over the continent the distribution was 

 patchy. The largest total reported during this period was 1,192 points at 

 Cooktown. In New South Wales the heaviest totals occurred at Broken Hill 

 with 100 points, folloAed by Bundella with 82, Bankstown with 81, and 

 Lismore with 79 ; the remaining amounts were light and scattered. 



On the 14th, the weather chart showed an energetic monsoonal disturbance 

 over the eastern states, whilst an extensive high pressure covered the western 

 half of the continent. The centre of the disturbance — -which was the 

 remains of the remarkable cyclonic storm responsil)le for the floods in Central 

 Australia — was situated between Cooktown and Mackay, in Queensland. 

 The chief weather conditions with this distribution of pressure were : — ^Very 

 heavy rains and high seas on the Queensland coast south from Rockhampton, 

 and strong N.E. to S.E. winds. Light to heavy rainfall was also reported 

 from the New South Wales coast and tablelands. The heaviest falls occurred 

 in the coastal districts of Queensland. Woodford had 1,112 points ; South- 

 port, 1,105; Cape Moreton, 900; Ipswich, 748; Tewantin, 660; and 

 Yandina, 650 points. In our state, Tweed Heads had 900 points ; Manning 

 Heads, 230 ; Casino, 224 ; and Camden Haven, 200. 



Within the next forty-eight hours these extreme conditions extended as 

 far southward as our Northern TaVjlelands, North-west Slopes, and Hunter 

 and Manning Districts, causing remarkably heavy and destructive floods 

 there. The largest rainfalls reported were : — Tenterfield, 900 points ; Wee 



