869.] 



NEW ZEALAND. 



453 



The weather of May is much more wet than April ; the air is 

 sensibly colder ; slight frosts often occur before sunrise. It frequently 

 happens that we have some of the finest days in the year about the 

 end of this month, calm temperature, and bright. Mean temperature 

 54°. 



In June the weather is cold and chilly, but sometimes there are de- 

 lightful days, rivalling those of summer — calm, mild, and clear — -with- 

 out a cloud to be observed. Mean temperature 49°. 



July is in general the worst month in the year, the middle of 

 winter, cold and wet. The ground retains the moisture longer at this 

 season than at any other period of the year. I have seen a slight coat- 

 ing of snow on two occasions in this month, but in neither case did it 

 lie over twenty-four hours. Mean temperature 48°. 



In August the weather commonly improves ; rather less rain than in 

 July, and towards the end of the mouth the air becomes much warmer. 

 Mean temperature 47°. 



In September spring commences with fine genial weather ; but it 

 often changes on a sudden to bleak cold days, doing considerable 

 damage to fruit-trees in blossom. Mean temperature 50°. 



The weather in October is rarely the same two years in succession, 

 occasionally very fine, but more commonly rough and cold, attended 

 with showers of sleet or hail. This is the worst month in the year 

 for the gardener. Mean temperature 54°. 



In November the temperature rises rapidly, although the weather 

 in many seasons is often very unsteady, generally less rain falling 

 than in the two preceding months. Mean temperature 59°. 



December is warmer and more dry than November — not so warm 

 as January, but having nearly the same number of dry days. Mean 

 temperature 62°. 



The number of dry, wet, and showery days that occurred at Oamaru, 

 during the year 1865, was as follows : — 



January, 



February, 



March, 



April, 



May, 



June, 



July, 



August, 



September, 



October, . 



November, 



December, 



