64 



tide occurs about sunset, the sea breeze dies, and a gentle air from tlie 

 W. sets in. When the time of slack water is later, the N. E. wind blows 

 far into the evening ; but I do not venture to say that the changes of 

 wind and tide always keep time with one another. I had no thought of 

 using them for my present jourpose when I made these observations. 

 Another more important observation which I do find recorded is this : — 

 at any given point on the coasts of Western Europe, the strongest winds 

 and most disastrous storms come in upon the coast in the direction from 

 which the true tide wave approaches it. The same is the case with the 

 worst class of storms that visit our own shores, and the S.E. coast of 

 the neighbouring continent of Australia. These come in upon us from 

 the south-east. What I do find is that, as a rule, the most disastrous 

 storms come in upon any coast line from the same direction as that in 

 which the tide wave approaches it. This is a rule on the western coasts 

 of Europe and in our own coiintry, and on the neighbouring shores of 

 Australia it also holds good. The worst weather on this coast and on 

 the eastern seaboard of Australia, is that which comes in from south-east. 



Mr. Bathgate said he had long thought that the hot winds expe- 

 rienced here were connected with those felt in Australia, and pointed oiit 

 the advantage of simultaneous observations being made in the two places, 

 in order to determine the question. 



Mr. Cargill thought observations were required with regard to the 

 effect of the IST.W. wind. He was told that the wind which was dry 

 here blew moist in the Lake district. It seemed as if the action of the 

 heavy masses of snow about Mount Cook caused a sudden precipitation 

 of the moisture in the atmosphere. He believed it was quite a delusion 

 to suppose that the N.W. wind caused the swelling of the rivers by 

 melting the snow. 



The Chairman said the v/ind seemed analogous to the sirocco in the 

 Mediterranean. 



Mr, Gillies said Mr. Cai-gill's remarks about the swelling of the 

 rivers might apply to the Waitaki and Ohau, but, speaking from personal 

 observation, he could say that they did not apply to the Clutha and 

 Jacob's river. Moreover, the colour of the water would always show 

 whether a river was swollen by snow water or not. So far as regarded 

 the southern rivers, the matter was perfectly clear, for the snow coiild be 

 seen melting day by day — almost hour by hovir. It was a well ascer- 

 tained fact in Dunedin harbour that the wind would change with the 

 tide. 



Ml'. M'Kerrow said the prevailing wind in the interior of the 



