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The Weather of 1897. 
HE records for the year show no abnormal features, 
both the rainfall and mean shade temperature 
approximating ‘very closely with the average of the last 
twenty years. 
RAINFALL. 
21 Years’ Average, 
Total for 1897. 1876-1896. 
26°34 26°37 
Mean SHADE TEMPERATURE. 
21 Years’ Average, 
Mean for 1897. 1876-18096. 
47°74 47°03 
The rainfall is the highest since 1891. With the exception 
of July and October, the fall was fairly distributed through- 
out the year. July was the driest month, rain only falling 
on 8 days, though no “absolute” or “partial”’ drought can 
be recorded. August was very wet, 1°44 inches falling on 
the 8th. 
The maximum temperature in the sun 140°7° was reached 
on July 23rd, the maximum in the shade 85°9° on August 
4th. The minimum in the shade 20'9°, and on the grass 
II'I*, occurred on December 25th. 
The last frost of the winter 1896-97 occurred on May 
22nd, and the first frost of the winter 1897-98 on September 
roth. 
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