CHAP. IX.J NEW ZEALAND. 175 



there were only twelve which could be called 

 calm days; during 213 it blew from the north or 

 north-west, and during 119 from the south or 

 south-east. It is difficult to say which wind is the 

 most violent : the south-east winds are very strong, 

 but the most severe gales which I experienced were 

 from the north-west. During the winter months 

 the latter prevail ; but when the sun has a southern 

 declination southerly winds blow, in consequence of 

 the greater degree to which the air is heated under 

 the equator, and the current of cold air which 

 rushes in from the south to replace it. These winds 

 have a very beneficial effect upon the climate : no 

 sooner is mist or fog formed than they dispel it, 

 and thus purify the atmosphere, and prevent the 

 collection of obnoxious exhalations ; they produce 

 also the remarkable feature of the continual chasing 

 of clouds, and sudden alternations of rain and sun- 

 shine, which follow each other in far more rapid 

 succession than is ever experienced in England, 

 which has been so unjustly accused of having the 

 most changeable weather in the world. In this 

 respect, also, the western coast is less affected than 

 the eastern ; a violent gale has been known to blow 

 at Wellington when there was fine weather and 

 only light winds at Nelson. 



New Zealand possesses a humid and moist climate. 

 If we consider the immense oceanic surface which 

 surrounds it on all sides, and from which a con- 



