■526 REPORT — 1891. 



In the evening, until about half-past 9, the sky to the south 

 and south-west presented a remarkably lurid appearance ; but 

 I do not think it needs an eruption of a volcano to account for 

 it. In very angry skies during gales of wind at sea I have 

 seen something of the kind. If the state of the atmosphere be 

 such as to increase refraction the sun's light may have some 

 effect long after sunset (say two and a half or three hours in 

 this case), and, falling on very dense clouds, would produce a 

 very angry appearance. 



Friday, 20th. — The shocks have continued in quick succes- 

 sion all night. They have, I think, rather diminished, both in 

 force and frequency, during the day. . . . All wooden build- 

 ings have hitherto been safe, and much of the damage to the 

 brick buildings is owing to the miserable manner in which 

 they are built. Both li}ne and bond-timber have been far too 

 scantily used. 



I learn that on Wednesday there was an unusually high 

 tide. Although the tides are at the neap, the tide rose over 

 the beach road and flooded the lower parts of some houses. 

 The continuance of south-east gales would, in the absence of 

 earthquakes, be enough to account for this, yet it seems to 

 have produced a good deal of alarm. 



Saturday, 21st. — Weather fine, barometer rising, shocks 

 frequent. It is noted that they come more frequently at or 

 about low water. They are not of a dangerous character, and 

 are, I think, weakening. 



Sunday, 22nd. — Weather most beautiful ; still, the shocks 

 continue about every hour. They only last two or three 

 seconds, and are sometimes only heard, not felt. A-t 4 o'clock, 

 rather a sharp shock (it is about low water). There are some 

 earth-cracks on the beach near high- water mark, and some 

 pipi-shells (or cockles) have been thrown up. 



Monday, 23rd.- — Day also fine, with fresh north-west 

 breeze. Shocks rather frequent — say, about every half-hour — 

 Init not strong. 



State of the Weather inevious to and duruuj tJie 

 Shocks. 



During the latter part of September, and up to the 6th of 

 October, the weather had been remarkably fine and dry. The 

 barometer ranged during the first week of the month from 

 29-42 to 29-80, with a north-west wind (with which wind it is 

 generally lower), and at about 500ft. above the harbour. In 

 the night of the 6th the barometer began to fall lower (it had 

 been slowly falling from the 1st) and rain came on. 



The following is a table of the weather from the 7th to 

 the 15th :— 



