1 G Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



to Oxford and the gorge of the Wuimakariri. In a lesser degree it may be to 

 the Malvern Hills and the gorge of the Kakaia. I am also well aware that 

 these rains invariably follow north- westers in the valleys of the Ashburton 

 and the Eangitata, and usually extend for a few miles beyond the ranges in 

 the direction of the plains. 



These remarks ai)ply with equal force to the Mackenzie country as far as 

 tlie AYaitaki Eiver, and the boundary of Canterbury with Otago in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Lake Ohau. 



A glance at the map will show that the region thus favoured is by no means 

 an insignificant j)ortion of the Province of Canterbury, throughout the whole 

 of which it cannot be said but that these north-west winds, on account of their 

 warmth and accompanying rains, are an undoubted benefit where otherwise late 

 and cold springs would prevail, greatly interfering with the profits of the sheep 

 farmer. I could not say whether or not the strength of these winds is in any 

 way modified by the height of the mountains, but this, I think, may be safely 

 asserted, that in the Mackenzie country and the neighbourhood of Mount Cook 

 they blow with equal, if not greater, violence than in any other locality that has 

 come under my observation. In this district I had occasion to watch the 

 behaviour of the north-wester very carefully, and a few facts connected there- 

 with may not be out of place. 



Lake Ohau forms one of the line of lakes which skirt the eastern side of 

 the main range, and fills the lower part of the valley which lies between Ben 

 Ahau and the mountains to the westward, and is notable amongst all its sister 

 lakes on account of the strong winds that blow here from the north-west. The 

 river which feeds this lake, four miles above the head of the lake, divides into 

 two branches, severally known as the Hopkins and Dobson rivers. Along 

 the valley of the first of these rivers the north-west winds chiefly blow, and 

 are comparatively rare in the Dobson Kiver Valley, it only being when 

 storms of unusual violence occur that the north-wester blows here at all. 

 North-westers occur here at all seasons, but are chiefly prevalent from 

 October till March, the most violent storms taking place in the month of 

 February. North-westers are usually succeeded by rain from the north-west. 

 If rain does not follow after five or six hours the north-wester is met and driven 

 back by a southerly wind. A north-wester may pass down the north-east side 

 of the lake while a southerly wind prevails on the south-west side. 



Sometimes when the north-west wind is stronger than usual, and is met by 

 the south wind, neither gives way, and may thus remain stationary within a 

 quarter of a mile for five or six hours. 



Usually a north-wester commences about 10 o'clock in the morning, and 

 if it does not rain by 3 p.m., is driven back about 5 p.m. by the south Avind. 



