152 Meteorolo(jical Observations. 



30th, and April 5th : that on February 12th was the most 

 marked, the thermometer being 91 degrees in the shade. 

 None occurred in the latter part of the year. 



There was but little rain until the month of May, when 

 upwards of 2 inches fell between the 6th and 7th, and the 

 whole month was wet, more rain having fallen in it than in 

 any other month of the year. June was fine, with but little 

 rain ; so was July, with a mean temperature lower than the 

 average. August was wet, but the spring months of Sep- 

 tember and October were fine. November and December 

 were of a very severe character, having constant gales with 

 wet cold weather : the mean temperatures of November and 

 December were at least 3 degrees below the usual average ; 

 and, during the latter month, the thermometer was several 

 times as low as 40 degrees, with snow in quantity on Mount 

 Wellington. 



The Aurora Australis was occasionally visible, but not 

 with the brilliancy which was so remarkable in the year 

 J 847 : it was the most brilliant in appearance on March 25th. 

 On October 18th and November 17th, when it appears to 

 have been very remarkable in its character in Europe, it was 

 here but indistinctly seen, from the general cloudy state of 

 the weather : it, however, caused very considerable disturbance 

 in the magnetic instruments on those days. 



Prevailing Winds. 



The general summary given with the Meteorological Tables 

 for the year 1847 contains all that is necessary to be said 

 upon the prevailing winds. It will be perceived that the 

 westerly winds embrace six -tenths of all the winds that blow 

 during the year. 



