CLIMATOLOGY. 



115 



The greatest heights the thermometer attained during the 

 period discussed were 87° in 1878 and 83° in 1880. The 

 lowest cold recorded was 0° Fahr. in 1879, and 10'^ on several 

 subsequent occasions. Table II. shows the extremes observed 

 during the past ten years, and also the mean diurnal range of 

 the thermometer. 



Table II. 









Mean 









Mean 



Year. 



Highest. 



Lowest. 



diurnal 

 range. 



Year. 



Highest. 



Lowest. 



diurnal 

 range. 



1877 



78-0 



i8-o 



13-0 



1882 



75-0 



13-0 



lo-o 



1878 



87-0 



II'O 



13-0 



1883 



740 



I2*0 



130 



1879 



77-0 



O'O 



13-0 



1884 



82-0 



i8-o 



I2'0 



1880 



83 'O 



i6-o 



II'O 



1885 



82-0 



lo-o 



I2*0 



1881 



81 -o 



lO'O 



I2-0 



1886 



81 -0 



II'O 



I2-0 



The air is fairly dry, the average relative humidity varying 

 between 83 and 87 per cent, of complete saturation. 



Bright Simshine is recorded on the average about 1350 hours 

 in the year, that is, on 29 per cent, of the greatest possible dura- 

 tion, or of the time the sun is above the horizon. 



Taisle III. 



MEAN MONTHLY SUNSHINE TOTALS AND PERCENTAGES. 



Month. 



No. of hours 

 of Sunshine. 



Percentage. 



Month. 



No. of hours 

 of Sunshine. 



Percentage. 



January ... 

 February... 



March 



April 



May 



50 



63 



128 



120 



223 



21 



24 

 36 

 29 



45 

 30 



Tulv 



160 



158 



103 



86 



66 



43 



32 



35 

 28 

 27 

 27 

 19 



August ... 

 September 

 Octol)er ... 

 November 

 December 



June 



The most favoured month is May, when 223 hours, or a per- 

 centage of 45 of the ma.ximum amount is recorded, whilst the 

 dullest month is December, with ])ut 43 hours, i.e., when less 

 than one-fifth of the time the sun is above the horizon is sunny. 



July i388. 



