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The rainfall up to the end of August only amounted to 10°81 in., 
this being the smallest fall in the first eight months of the year 
during our record. The fall in the last four months was nearly as 
much, 10°06 in| The nearest approach to this record was in 1887, 
when the fall in the first eight months was 11‘o2.; in that year, 
however, the last four months only produced 7:70 in., the total for 
the year thus only reaching 18°72 in., 2 inches less than last year’s 
total, and the smallest year’s fall in our record. 
There has been in the past year one “absolute drought,” viz: 
the 18 days from 1st to 18th May. The period from 17th April to 
20th May was a “partial drought,” only o-30 in. of rain falling 
in the 34 days. 
The maximum temperature in the sun 138°9° was reached on 
July 6th, the maximum in the shade 81°8° on June 15th and 16th. 
The minimum in the shade, 19°9°, occured on November 6th, the 
maximum exposed on the grass, 181°, on February 27th. 
The shade temperature exceeded 70° on 40 days, 80° being 
exceeded on 6 days. 
There were 120 frosty nights during the year. The last frost of 
the winter 1895-96 occurred on May 25th, and the first of the 
winter 1896-97 on September 21st. 
South-westerly winds have, as usual, been most prevalent, 
having blown on 73 days. The year has in this district been 
remarkably free trom destructive gales, and there has been very 
little snow and few thunderstorms. 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS. 
JaNnuary.—A very mild and dry month. The Barometer was 
unusually high, the reading on the gth (30°96 in.) being, with the 
exception of a doubtful one of 31°07 in January, 1882, the highest 
within our record. There were g frosts in the shade and 14 on the 
grass, but no snow fell. 
FEBRUARY was very dry and fairly mild. There were 11 frosts 
in the shade and 16 on the grass, but no falls of snow. The 
barometer was again unusually high. A gale from the S. occurred 
on the 7th. 
Marcu was mild and rainy. Gales occurred on 5 days, chiefly 
from W. and S.W. Thunder and lightning occurred on the 24th. 
There were five frosts in the shade and ro on the grass, but no snow 
fell. 
APRIL was mild and dry, the rain nearly all fell between the 
oth and the 17th. There were 11 frosts on the grass but only one 
in the shade. A gale from the N.W. blew on the 13th. 
May.—A warm and excessively dry month, being the dryest 
May in our record. Rain fell on 3 days only, the rgth, 21st, and 
22nd. The shade temperature exceeded 70° on 6 days. There were 
no frosts in the shade but ro on the grass, the low reading of 23°8° 
occurring on the 21st. 
