378 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



averaged 0'069 lower than those taken at 9 a.m. The 9 p.m. readings ex- 

 ceeded the 9 a.m. by an average of 0-007 in December, January, and Feb- 

 ruary ; while during the remaining nine months of the year the 9 a.m. 

 averaged '015 higher than the 9 p.m. observations. 



RAINFALL. 



The total fall for the year 1879 105'16 inches was short of the previous 

 eight years' average by T03 inches. During the dry season June to Sep- 

 tember 13 '24 inches were collected, against 11 '98 inches average for same 

 four months in previous eight years. No floods occurred from excessive 

 rainfall at any one period. Rainfall for week ending Saturday the 15th was 

 973 inches in 64 hours. The following are the only noteworthy entries, 

 showing amount of precipitation in stated times : 



4'66 inches in 14 hours on Jan. 20. 

 4-58 19 Jan. 28. 

 1-72 1 Jan. 26. 



1'58 45 minutes Nov. 25. 



WIND. 



On January llth and 12th, heavy squalls of wind and rain occurred 

 from N. to N.W. February llth was stormy and very wet ; from the 9th 

 of that month till the morning of the 14th no sun was visible, being the 

 longest overcast period on record here. On llth December there oc- 

 curred a strong gale with only light rainfall. It began from S.E. with 

 thunderstorm, passing round to N.E., whence it blew hardest at nightfall. 

 Barometer minimum at 3 p.m., viz., 29,404 all corrections applied. 

 During the night the wind passed to westward, and fell to a moderate 

 breeze with clear sky on the morning of the 12th. On this coast the 

 damage done was very slight, yet it was the hardest blow felt here since 

 the hurricane of 1871. 



WATER. 



Analysis of sample of water taken from hot springs, Savu Savu Bay, 

 Vanua Levu, Fiji, supplied by H. Stonehewer Cooper : 



Total solids at 212 F '8796 per cent. 



Do., ignited '7726 



The residue consists of : 



Free sulphuric acid (S0 3 ) '0049 



Calcium sulphate ... ... ... '0260 



Calcium chloride ... ... ... '4355 



Magnesium chloride ... ... ... '0021 



Potassium chloride ... ... ... '0415 



Water -1070 



Sodium chloride ... '2641 



8811 per cent. 

 (Signed) H. ROCHOLL. 



