XXVlll PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



inches. The rainfall of Brisbane was spread over an average of 

 154 days in each year, that of Roma being spread over 67 days. 

 This lessened rainfall at Roma, and much fewer days on which 

 rain fell would indicate a comparatively dry atmosphere, which, 

 taken in conjunction with the low mean shade temperature* 

 ought to produce a healthy, invigoratmg climate, and one well 

 suited to certain chest complaints. Hughenden had an average 

 annual rainfall during the last eight years of 24-35 inches, the 

 average number of days on which rain fell in each year being 

 56. The average ramfall at Hughenden was 9-92 inches less 

 than that of Roma, and the mean shade temperature 9-1 degs. 

 greater. The Hughenden district is therefore hotter and drier 

 than that of Roma, its rainfall being very similar to that of 

 Barcaldine, which for the last eight years had an annual rainfall 

 of 24-43 inches — the average number of wet days being 58. 

 The climate of these districts must be very similar, and although 

 hot and dry, should not be enervating, but on the contrary an 

 agreeable one to live in. 



Townsville had a mean annual rainfall of 59-32 inches 

 during the last eight years, and an average number of 87 wet 

 days in each year. Taking this heavy rainfall with the mean 

 shade temperature during that time of 75-0 degs., a warm moist 

 climate would be expected to result. This is the case, and the 

 effects of such are somewhat trying to Europeans and their 

 children. The difference between the rainfall of Townsville, 

 Rockhampton and Brisbane is not very great. Rockhampton 

 for the last eight years had a mean annual rainfall of 50-04 

 inches, and an average annual number of wet days of 115. 



Brisbane had a mean annual rainfall for the last nine year' 

 of 59-2 inches and an annual number of wet days of 154. 

 Rockhampton is drier than Townsville or Brisbane, and had a 

 mean shade temperature of 71-8 degs. for the last six years, being 

 3'4 degs. greater than that of Brisbane, and 3-2 degs. less than 

 that of Townsville, which was 6-6 degs. greater than that of 

 Brisbane. So far as one can judge by temperature and rainfall 

 the climate of Rockhampton and district is almost, if not quite 

 as good as that of Brisbane, and judging by my own experience 

 I do not think that there is very much to choose between the 

 two. Excepting for about four months of the year, the climate 



