357 



Districts the rainfall is much below the average. The atmosj^hevic pressure 

 during the month is lower than the average at every station ; the temperature 

 of air being that usual for this month. On 5th and 6th, severe thunder storm 

 felt at northern stations, with rain and hail. Snow occux'red on eight days at 

 Bealey ; snow also at Dunedin on 28th and 29th. Violent thunder storm on 

 31st at Southland, with heavy snow. A ui'ora observed on 22nd. 



Septemher. — Weather generally fine throughout the colony ; small rainfall, 

 and winds moderate. Brilliant Aiirora observed in North and South on 24th 

 and 25th. 



October. — Season all over the colony much drier than usual, but in the 

 Northern Provinces amounting to a positive drought. At Bealey, however, 

 on the 4th there was a storm fi'om S.W., with rain, thunder, hail, and snow ; 

 also a gale on 10th from N.W., and on 17th from same quarter, with rain and 

 thunder ; snow also on 12th at this place. At Hokitika, wet southerly weather 

 from 1st to 5th, with thunder. Aurora observed on 24th, 25th, and 26th, 

 North and South. Meteor seen in North on 16th ; very brilliant. 



November. — Generally fine during the month, with the exception of a 

 storm, with electrical disturbance, that traversed the whole length of the 

 Islands from N. to S. on 23rd and 24th. Temperature considerably over the 

 average for same month in previous years ; rainfall only slightly in excess in 

 the North, but deficient in the South ; at Nelson there was a long continued 

 drought, with close dull Aveather, broken only by one day's heavy rainfall 

 on 24th. Aurora observed in North on 19th, and in South on 23rd and 26th. 

 Meteor seen on 20th in South Island. 



December. — Very strong northerly winds in early part of month throughout 

 the colony, accompanied at times with severe thunder, lightning, hail, and 

 rain ; latter part of month was generally fine and pleasant at all the stations. 

 Strong gale at Taranaki on 2nd from N., and on 5th from N.W., with thunder 

 and rain ; hail on 4th. On 2nd severe thunder storm at Nelson from N., 

 and on 6th thunder and lightning and strong wind from N.W., and heavy 

 rain — 2-30 inches fell in three houi's. At Bealey, 4-640 inches recorded on 

 6th for previous 24 hours, and snow on 4th, 5th, and 6th ; on same dates at 

 Hokitika, heavy gale from E.N.E., with thunder, hail, and rain ; and on 7th 

 heavy squalls with large hailstones, wind N.W. Frequent Auroras observed 

 in South, but most brilliant on 18th. 



James Hectok, 

 Inspector of Meteorological Stations. 



