170 
The year 1894 takes rank with 1887, 1890, and 1893, as one of 
the four dryest years in our record. With the exception of Febru- 
ary, June, and July, every month had a total fall below the average. 
and the aggregate excess in those three months only amounted to 
48 inch. 
September was drier than any month of that name in the pre- 
vious eighteen years. and included a period of 16 consecutive days 
on which no rain fell. The number of days on which rain fell was 
slightly above the average, so that although the scanty rainfall 
caused in many places a serious scarcity of water, the compensating 
advantage of bright sunshine and pleasant weather, usually associ- 
ated with a deficient rainfall, was conspicuous by its absence. 
The maximum temperature in the sun, 141°8°, was reached on 
August 22nd, the minimum on the grass, 0°3°, on January 6th: with 
two exceptions viz.—1°2° on February 19th, 1892, and —o*7° on 
December 22nd, 1890, this is the lowest temperature which has 
been recorded during the past 19 years. 
The maximum in the shade, 80.5°, was registered on July 6th. 
and the minimum in the shade, 8.5°, on January 6th. The shade 
temperature exceeded 70° on 21 days, 80 degrees being reached on 
2 days. There were 120 frosty nights during the year. The last frost 
of the winter 1893—94 occurred on June ist, and the first frost of the 
succeeding winter on September 30th. 
South-westerly winds have again been most prevalent, having 
blown on 73 days. 
DETAILED REMARKS ON THE MONTHS. 
January.—The year commenced with frost, and slights falls of 
snow, the lowest temperature of the year being reached on the 6th. 
From the break up of the frost on the gth until the end of the month. 
the weather was uniformly mild. There were ro frosts in the air and 
16 on the grass; slight falls of snow occurred on 6 days; gales blew 
from the west and south-west on the 19th- 21st, and 27th—28th. 
Though there were only 6 absolutely fair days the total fall was 
small. 
FEBRUARY was mild and stormy; gales oocurred on the rst, 6th 
and 7th, roth to 12th, and 24th to 26th, they were all from the west 
and south-west, those of 6th—7th and roth—12th being especially 
violent and destructive. There were 8 frosts in the air and 16 on 
the grass. 
MArcu was a mild and dry month, but less so than March 1893. 
The first twelve days were showery, but from the 13th until the end 
of the month scarcely any rain fell. Gales from the south-west 
occurred on the rst, 5th and 6th, and 11th; there were ro frosts in. 
the air, and 23 on the grass; a fine display of the Aurora Borealis 
was observed on the 30th. 
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