126 J. HOPKIlfSON — METEOEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 



pressure was unusually equable. Little in fact can be added to 

 the information given in tlie tables, the weather being so equable 

 in every respect — so universally dull, wet, and gloomy. 



JuLY.---The temperature continued about the same as in June, 

 only the last four or five days showing a decided rise. The wind 

 was almost persistently south-westerly for at least the first half 

 of the month, and S. to S.E. for the last week. Pressure was 

 again equable. July indeed was almost a counterpart of June, 

 and if anything was even more gloomy. 



August. — From the 11th to the 15th the temperature Avas higher 

 than at any other time during the mouth, and this was the longest 

 period of hot weather in the year. During this period the wind was 

 easterly, and after it was S. to S.W. There was a terrific thunder- 

 storm on the night of the 2nd. The rain recorded in the table fell, 

 partly as hail, in about three hours, from 0'30 to 3*30 a.m. The 

 vivid and for some time continuous lightning, appearing almost 

 simultaneously in S.W., K.W., and N., loud crackling thunder, 

 high wind, and heavy hailstones, which sounded to us like a few 

 large stones occasionally thrown as in handfuls at our windows, 

 combined to render the storm one never to be forgotten. It is 

 remarkable that on the morning of the 2nd barometric pressure 

 was at the highest point in the month (30'162 ins.). 



September. — Beyond the values given in the tables nothing calls 

 for special remarks. The heavy fall of rain on the 23rd was 

 preceded by the only rapid change in pressure, a fall of nearly half 

 an inch from the previous day. 



October. — This was the first month in the year, excepting March, 

 without excessive rainfall. Temperature was a little lower after 

 the 9th tliau it had hitherto been, but rose again after the 23rd. 

 The wind was easterly (S.E. to N.E.) the first half of the month, 

 then westerly, and E. or N.E. the last week. 



November. — Winter may be said to have begun, in the midst of 

 a two days' gale of wind, on the 13th, the first of four cold days 

 followed by three warm ones. On the 20th, when temperature 

 again fell, there was the first fall of snow. Pressure was remark- 

 ably high and steady, being least, 29"822 ins., on the 21st, and 

 greatest, 30*620 ins., on the 7th. 



December. — The first twelve days were excessively cold, from 

 the 1 3th there were a few rather warmer days followed by another 

 cold period lasting to the 27th, while the last four days were so 

 warm as to make the mean of the month considerably higher than 

 it would otherwise have been. The wind was northerly to the 

 19th, and E. by S. to W. to the end of the month. Pressure, while 

 higher even than in November, varied more, from 29'629 ins. on 

 the 4th to 30*8 19 ins. on the 23rd, the highest point reached since 

 I commenced my observations in 1876. 



