Meteorology of 1901. 161 



averag-e of the past fifteen years, which would be about 83, and 

 corresponds with the smaller rainfall of the period. 



Thunderstorms. — These have been more frequent than in 

 former years. There was sheet lig-htning on the 1st January, 

 and again thunder and lightning- on the 27th in connection with 

 the severe storm of that day. There were none in February, 

 March, or j\.pril, as far as I observed. But there was one on the 

 3d May, another on the 14th July, and a severe and protracted 

 storm on the 20th of the same month. On 10th August there 

 was thunder and lightning from 7.30 to 1.30 P.M., with very 

 heavy rain. Again, on 2nd October, about midnight, and on the 

 22nd, there was a recurrence of the same phenomenon, and once 

 more on the 8th December. This makes a record of nine in the 

 course of the year, which is, I think, decidedly in excess of 

 previous years. 



Wind. — With regard to the wind direction, these do not 

 differ materially from those reported in former years. As usual 

 the south-westerly blew on the greatest number of days, viz., 80|, 

 the westerly came next with 57, and the north-westerlj' with 50, 

 the southerly had 2 8 i, making in all 216; while the northei'ly, 

 north-easterly, easterly, and south-easterly amounted to 137 days, 

 and 9 were calm or variable. 



The Rev. Mr Andson read the following paper by Mr JOHN 

 Rutherford, Jardington : — 



Phetiological and Weather Observations, taken at Jardt/igtoti for 



igoi. 



January. 



Rainfall, 2-8 inches. Weather mild ; lowest night tempera- 

 ture, 20 deg., F. ; highest, 44 deg. Nearly the whole of the 

 month the temperature was above freezing at 9 A.M. The lowest 

 barometrical reading was 29-1 on the 27th with a stormy night ; 

 the highest on several days was 30 '4 Heard the song thrush 

 trying his voice on several fine mornino;s after the 18th, and when 

 the sun was bright repeatedly heard the cheery warble of the 

 water ousel. 



