140 J. HOPKINSON REPORT ON THE 



Droughts in 1896. — Accepting as usual Mr. Symons' definitions 

 of an "absolute drouglit " as a period of more than 14 consecutive 

 days without any rain, and a "partial drought" as a period of 

 more than 28 consecutive days with an aggregate rainfall not 

 exceeding O'Ol inch, per day, there was one absolute drought in 

 1896, and one partial drought. 



The absolute drought occurred at 24 out of the 35 stations for 

 which I have the daily rainfall, its average duration being 22 days. 

 It lasted for 



34 days, April 17 to May 20, at 1 station. 



The partial drought prevailed at all stations, commencing on the 

 17th of April and lasting at most of the stations until the 3rd 

 of June, its average duration being 45 days, and the average rain- 

 fall 0'007 in. per diem. It lasted for at least 



33 days, April 17 to May 19, at the 35 stations. 



34 ,, ,, 17 ,, ,, 20 ,, 33 of these. 



46 „ ,, 17 ,, June 1 „ 27 ,, „ 



47 ,, ,, 17 ,, ,, 2 ,, 26 ,, ,, 

 4o ,, ,, 1/ ,, ,, o ,, 2o ,, ,, 



Dktrihution of Rainfall throughout the Year. — Of the total 

 rainfall, 19 °/q fell during the winter months (Jan., Feb., and 

 Dec), 17 °/o during the spring (March to May), 22 °/q during the 

 summer (June to August), and 42 "/^ during the autumn (Sept. to 

 Nov.). The fall during each quarter and each season, and the 

 deviation from the mean for the half -century 1840-89, were as 

 follows : — 



Fall. Diflf. Fall. DifE. 



1st quarter 476 ins. — 0"87 in. Winter 5'06 ins. — 0*94 in. 



2nd ,, 3-15 —2-86 Spring 4-.58 —0-94 



3rd ,, 10-37 +3-05 Summer 5-92 —1-06 



4th „ 8-42 -j-0-95 Autumn 11-14 +3-21 



September was excessively wet ; March, October, and December 

 were also very wet; and August was rather wet. February and 

 May were exceedingly dry ; January and April were also veiy 

 dry ; and July and November were rather dry. The aggregate 



