Observations on Tasmanian Statistics. 35 



any conclusion can with propriety be drawn as to tlie mean 

 temperature of the whole Island, equally precise observations, 

 extending over even a greater length of time, must be ob- 

 tained from a great number of points ; as it is obvious that 

 there are many conditions besides that of altitude and littoral 

 position which more or less modify temperature in particular 

 situations. For instance, at Port Arthur, near the level of 

 the sea, the mean temperature for 1842 is stated, upon the 

 authority of the late Assistant-Commissary-General Lem- 

 priere,* to have been 55'1 ; while at the Hampshire Hills, 

 1340 feet above the level of the sea, and more to the north, 

 Dr. Milligan states the mean temperature for 1836 to have 

 been only 47'69, and in 1845 only 47'49. f It is evident, 

 therefore, that it must not be too hastily assumed that 

 because in Hobart Town we have a temperature so mild 

 and equable, that the same will be found to prevail generally 

 over the colony. — The next column in the table gives the 

 fall of rain for each year; the minimum being in 1847, 

 14'46, and the maximum in 1849, 33'52 ; the mean annual 

 fall for the ten years being 20" 7 13, which is nearly the same 

 as that which is given for London, (20'686) deduced from a 

 series of forty years' observations. Here, again, we must be 

 cautious not to receive as the average fall of rain throughout 

 Tasmania thatwhich is experienced in this particular locality : 

 for Mr. Lempriere, in the Table referred to, gave for the 

 year 1842 at Port Arthur 32*58 inches ; while Dr. Milligan 

 gives for the five years 1835 to 1839 the following amounts 

 respectively, viz. 55-75, 75*16, 80*59, 70*47, and 55*23 

 — the mean annual fall for the five years being 67*44. 

 Again, Dr. Pugh states the fall of rain at Launceston 

 in 1849 to have been 28*716; that for Hobart Town, as 



* Tasmanian Journal, vol. ii. p. 70. 

 t Ibid, p. 71. ; vol. i. p. 380. 



