16 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



the records show five years in which the rainfall was less than 

 21 inches the lowest was 18 '56 in 1864 and three years in 

 which it was more than 35 inches the highest recorded being 

 38*69 inches in 1903. More prolonged periods of wet occurred 

 in 1875 and 1876, and in 1879 and 1880, when 69'34 and 70'0 

 inches fell in two consecutive years. The nine-year period, 

 1875 to 1883 inclusive, was an exceptionally wet one, each 



IU1D. 



100 



50 



40 



Jan. Feb. Mar. Apl. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Deo. 



FIG. 1. Rainfall : Average of 60 years (1853-1912). 



Sunshine: Average of 20 years (1892, 1893, and 1895-1912). 

 Mean Temperature : Average of 35 years (1878-1912). 



individual year giving a fall of more than 30 inches, and 

 averaging 33 '54 inches over the nine years. Exceptional 

 periods of drought extending over two years are less frequent, 

 and the lowest averages of two consecutive years are 217 in 

 1863 and 1864, 22'1 in 1901 and 1902, and 23'2 in 1870 and 

 1871. The longest consecutive period of years showing under 

 average rainfall was the five years 1867-1871, when the falls 

 ranged from 21'3 to 26'9 inches, and averaged over the five 

 years 24 '84 inches. 



In Fig. 1 curves are set out showing the average rainfall, 



