356 



Bealey, 3-790 inches of rain fell in 24 hours (on 11th), and on 20th, 2-010. 

 Aurora observed on 12th, in South. 



March. — Fine steady weather dui'ing the month, except on the South and 

 West Coasts, where N.W. storms occurred in the first week. Brilliant Aurora 

 was generally observed on the evenings of the 12th, 18th, and 22nd. Very 

 severe gale at Southland on 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th, with heavy rain, hail, 

 thunder, and lightjimg. 



April. — Severe weather for the season, especially in the southern parts of 

 the Islands, where the rainfall was in excess of the usual average. Electi-ical 

 storms were general in the early part of the month, and from 5th to 7th 

 brilliant Auroras were observed. Snow fell at Christchurch on 27th, and hail 

 on 1st, 4th, 26th, and 27th, and snow at Bealey 02a 1st, 4th, and 25th. At 

 Hokitika, severe gale on 10th, with thunder and lightning ; 5-59 inches of raiii 

 in 24 hours. Snow also at Dunedin on 25th and 26th, and hail on 1st, 2nd, 

 and 26th. 



May. — Stormy weather generally during the month. The rainfall has been 

 above the average. Active eruption of Tongariro, with lava, during this 

 month. Severe storm at Auckland on 8th and 9th from N.E., with slight 

 rain ; on the 8th the horizontal movement of wind for 24 hours previously 

 was 1070 miles. At Nelson, 3-45 inches of rain recorded on 9th, during a 

 storm from same quarter. At Bealey, thunder on 3rd, 15th, 16th and 28th, 

 and 2-720 inches of rain regiscered on 16th ; snow fell at that station on 2nd, 

 3rd, and 23rd. In Soiithland, on 15th, barometer fell fi'om 29-9 to 28-9, 

 followed by a heavy rainfall from S.E., causing flood. 



June. — The weather dui'ing the month throixghout the colony was generally 

 wet and disagreeable, and in the South Island the rainfall was excessive ; the 

 winds were, on the whole, moderate ; severe thunder storms occuri-ed. On 

 15th, at Wellington, there occurred a severe hail, rain, and thunder storm — 

 very large hail stones, loud thvinder, and vivid lightning, with bitterly cold 

 S.E. wind. Heavy rain on 25th at Bealey (2-360 inches in 24 hours), and 

 snow on 15th and 23i-d. Very heavy rain at Hokitika, especially on 25th, 

 when 3-25 inches fell in 24 hours. Mild weather, but wet, in the extreme 

 South, for the time of year. 



July. — The weather was generally wet, stormy, and severe ; frequent 

 storms, with thunder, hail, and heavy rain, occurred ; on 7th and 8th an 

 earthquake was felt at several of the stations. Tongariro reported active. 

 Strong gale in North from S.W., on 1st, with thundei", hail, and rain ; also on 

 3rd to 10th very stormy from same quarter, with thunder and hail. Stormy 

 weather at Bealey from 2nd to 4th, from S.W., also strong winds, with thunder 

 and heavy rain, at Hokitika, on same dates. 



August. — This month remarkable for the stormy weather and excessive 

 rainfall in the northern part of the colony ; while in the South and West 



