94 



a degree les8. The extremea-were 113 degrees maximum on the 26th (which 

 is noteworthy in connection with the previous remarks as to the air, tempera- 

 ture,and deaths on this day and the two succeeding). The minimum was 59 

 degrees on the 8th. 



The Terrestrial radiation thermometer gave a mean of 43*08 degrees, which 

 is + 1 '37 degrees above the mean of the previous eight years, though both ] 860 

 and 1862 had a still warmer mean. The maximum was 48 on the 26th ; the 

 minimum 35 on the 27th. That the extremes, in the opposite diiections, should 

 be on adjoining days is curious, and gives another datiim for the high mortality 

 at this period. 



Rain fell on 11 days out of the month, to the aggregate amount of 2*63 

 inches, being + '86 of an inch above the standard average of the month, though 

 neither in amount, or in the number of rainy days equal to October 

 last year. The number of wet days moreover for the present month 

 is —4-44 below the average of the previous nine years, showing that 

 the quantity precipitated fell more heavily than usual. On the 5th the fall, 

 estimated from 10 p.m. to 10 p.m., was more than an inch, and thorouo-hly 

 scoured the city rivulet and all its subsidiary drains and feeders. At \his 

 period of the month, 4th to 8th inclusive, rain was registered every day 

 amounting altogether to one and a half inches. On the llth, again, half an 

 inch of rain fell. On the 27th there were frequent strong cold squalls from 

 south east to west with snow, hail, and rain. The snow remained even in 

 the streets, for some time, and Mount Wellington was beautifully mantled 

 with it. This inclement winter-like day excited much surprise in many 

 persons, yet the meteorological records of Hobarton, show that such like 

 weather, in varying degree, is not unusual from about the llth to the 23rd of 

 October. At the latter date, in October 1859, the low hills about the city 

 were covered with snow. Snoio was never absent from Mount Wellington 

 during the month. In 1863 it did not disappear until the 7th December. 

 Humidity mean was 14 being + 1 above the 20 years' average. 

 Elastic force of vapour had a mean of 306 being +5 above the 20 years' 

 standard, though —1 less than 1863 had. 



Cloud mean was 6-49, which is + '87 above the 20 years' mean, but much 

 the same as October 1863. 



Ozone in September was more abundant than ever before recorded, yet the 

 present month has exceeded it by +-05 being 8*79, and is +1*14 more than the 

 average of the previous seven years. Its superabundance was so modified, 

 however, by the moist state of the atmosphere, that inflammatory affections 

 of the organs of respiration were few. Only three deaths from the diseases of 

 these organs having taken place, the youngest of the three being 56 years 

 old. In the previous month there were eight, and in October 1863 seven. 

 Electricity had 22 positive indications with maximum tension of 9, in the 

 latter respect by far the highest ever known, though in the former one less 

 numerous than in September, Negative had 38 records with maximum ten- 

 sion of 8, exceeding, therefore, September's registry, both numerically and 

 potentially. " Nil" was registered twice, at the 1p.m. observation of the 5th 

 and llth. Lightning was never observed during the month. 



The Deaths in this October were 41, being —3 less than the average of the 

 previous seven years, and —8 less than 1863 had ; 1859 had the same in num- 

 ber, but 1861 had only 29, and 1862 only 30 ; 1857 and 1858, however, had 

 each 57, which is the maximum. In the tabular analyses of " Ages" and 

 "Diseases," the comparative proportions for each year, for the different 

 groups of ages, and the different classes of diseases are detailed : — 



' Under one year of age" (or in fact under five months old) the deaths were 8, 

 being -f 1 1 -7 above the seven years' average, though four of the seven had 

 more. At " 1 to 5" the deaths were less than half the average. Altogether 



