352 The Meteorology of 1903. 



year was one of low barometer readings, and the number of davs 

 on which these fell below 29 inches was considerably more than 

 usual. They occurred in January, February, and March; and 

 again in August, October, and December, and for the most part 

 were accompanied by strong gales and heavy rains. The lowest 

 reading of the year, 28.250 in., as previously noted, occurred in 

 February, but in March it was little higher, and that month was 

 throughout singularly boisterous and unsettled. 



Temperature in shade, 4 feet above grass — The highest 

 temperature of the year was recorded on the 2d July, and was no 

 more than 80 deg. This was the only day on which the ther- 

 mometer rose so high, the next being 79.7 deg., on the 31st May. 

 June had a no higher single day temperature than 76.8 deg., and 

 the absolute maximum of August was only 71 deg. This shows 

 a remarkable scarcity of very warm, sunny days, although there 

 seems to have been less deficiency in days moderately warm, 

 with readings above 70 deg. The lowest temperature of the 

 year was registered on the 14th January, with a record of 17 

 deg., giving an annual range of 63 deg. The warmest month 

 was July, with a mean of 58.4 deg. August had 57.1 deg., and 

 June 56 deg., all of which were decidedly under average. The 

 coldest month was December, with a mean of 36.7 deg., and the 

 next coldest January, with a mean of 37.5 deg., both of which 

 were slightly under average. But the deficiency, we might thus 

 have been led to expect, was more than compensated by the 

 excess above average in several of the other months. In 

 February it was 5.7 deg., in March 2.2 deg., and in October 5 

 deg., giving an aggregate excess of 12.9 deg., while the deficiency 

 in the other months only amounted to 10 deg. Hence the mean 

 annual temperature turns out to be slightly above average, viz., 

 48.1. deg., as compared with a mean of 47.5 deg. Of course, the 

 explanation of such excesses of temperature as have been referred 

 to in February, March, and October is to be found in the unusual 

 prevalence of cyclones from the Atlantic with southerly, south- 

 westerly, and westerly winds, and heavy rains. The first three 

 months of the year were characterised by open and wet weather. 

 April was cold and dry, May was favourable on the whole to 

 vegetation, but during the proper summer months there was 

 a deficiency of hot and sunny days, while the autumn, although 

 mild, was very wet, and proved excessively injurious to the 



