METEOROLOGICAL WORK IN AUSTRALIA. 269 



With regard to the whiter rainfall in South Australia, our 

 records appear to show — 



1. That in the thirteen years when the mean summer pressure 



was ahove the average aud the temperature below, the 

 following winter rain was below the average in nine 

 years, above the average in only one year, and about an 

 average in three years : 



2. That in the nine years when the summer pressure was belowf 



the average and the temperature above, the following 

 winter rain was above the average in seven years, below 

 in only one year, and an average in one year : 

 From which we obtaia ihe following general rough rale : — 

 Summer cool, with high barometer : winter dry. 

 Summer hot, with low barometer : winter wet. 



As regards the future, if I may venture to make any suggestions, 

 it appears to be desirable that the meteorological observaiions of 

 the different colonies should be published in a more uniform and 

 systematic manner, in such complete detail as will assist theoretical 

 deductions, and be accompanied by fuller discussion of results, 

 general character of the weather, storms, extent and duration of 

 droughts, and any abnormal conditions that may have occurred 

 during the year. Mr. Russell has done very much in the latter 

 direction in his publications on the climate of New South Wales, 

 and rains, and state of rivei's, &c. 



We also require normal isobaric and isothermic mnps for each 

 month and the year, but the observations as at present published 

 hardly afford sufficient data for these, and many of the stations 

 have been too recently established to furnish more than roughly 

 approximate averages. 



New Caledonia would be a valuable reporting station in regard 

 to cyclones approaching the Queensland coast from the east, and I 

 trust the cable now laid will be utilised as early as possible. I would 

 also strongly urge an exchange, by mail, of weather charts and 

 observations with the Cape of Good Hope. Natal, and Mauritius. 



CONCLUSION. 

 I feel that I haAC trespassed too long on your time, but I have 

 had a considerable stretch of ground to cover. The record I have 

 placed before you — very imperfectly, I fear — is one of which we 

 have have no need to be ashamed. That meteorology should have 

 been taken up so energetically and been so liberally supported by 

 the several Colonial (iovernments, on whose purse, in building up 

 a new nation, there are so many claims, is nor, however, without a 

 sufficient cause. To successfully occupy and establish industries 

 in new countries, a knowledge of climate and the meteorological 

 conditions under which we are to labor is essential to success, 

 as teaching us what we can best and most profitably produce. 

 Situated Avithin and without the tropics, with such a range of 



