Holmes. — Meteorology of Fiji. 



xxvii 



The mean temperature for December, 8-1-1, exceeds by 2-3 the highest monthly average 

 yet registered at the station, since January, 1871. 



The temperature in shade in December exceeded 90-0 every day in the month except 

 three. 



The rainfall in January exceeded the total rainfall during the remaining eleven months 

 of the 3'ear by 2-87 inches. 



In 74 hours ending 8 a.m. January 29, 27'32 inches of rain fell, causing extensive 

 floods, but little destruction of property ; this included 12-08 inches which fell in 21 hours 

 on the 27th. 



The only gale during the year occurred on March 31, from S.E., -with light rain, thun- 

 der and lightning ; it was not severe. 



There was very little thunder or lightning during the year, particularly during the last 

 nine -months. In April thunder was heard on three days, once with lightning ; in May oh 

 two daj's ; then none till the 26th November, and 30th December. 



N.B. — These results have been reduced from observations taken daily throughout 

 the year, at 8 a.m. Thermometers by Casella. Kain gauge by Negretti and Zambra, five 

 inch cii'cular, fully exposed. 



Further particulars of the drought which prevailed from August 11th to the close of 

 the year : — 



1877. 



DiBECTioN or Wind. 



Sunshine and Clouds. 



6 



f4 



o 



02 



03 



1 

 

 3 

 

 



4 





 1 

 

 

 



1 



2 





 2 

 2 

 

 



4 



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m to 



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p 





g 

 3 



S 



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6 

 a 



3 

 2 



ft 

 © 



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 O 



o 



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o 



o 



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a 



S 

 'S 



4^ 



3 

 a 



1 

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w 



August 11 to 31 



September 



October 



November 



December 



21 

 30 

 31 

 30 

 31 



18 

 26 

 21 

 21 

 18 



104 



2 

 1 

 5 

 9 

 13 



30 



9 



14 

 13 

 15 

 14 



2 

 6 

 7 

 8 

 10 



3 



4 



7 

 4 

 7 



5 

 6 

 3 

 3 

 



2 

 

 1 

 

 



0-36 

 0-41 

 1-29 

 0.48 

 0-81* 



3 

 2 

 4 



2 



4 

 3 

 6 

 4 

 2 



19 



143 



65 



33 



25 



17 



3 



3-35 



14 



* This includes 0-63 inches which fell on the 30th. 



[Note — January 7, 1878. — During the past week only one shower of rain, equal to 0-10 

 inch, fell, making the total for the five months (nearly) 3-45 inches. Yesterday, January 

 6, temperature in shade rose to 98-6, the highest registered here in seven years.] 



Wind in general blew pretty strong, but never increasing to a gale, or falling to a calm, 

 except occasionally at night or in the early mornings. 



Sun's rays in December intensely hot on some days ; on the 24th, thermometer for solar 

 radiation, by Negretti and Zambra, with blackened bulb, and placed over short grass, 

 registered 172-0, the extreme limits of the instrument, and on the 26th 165-7. 



On December 24, the salt water in a tidal creek, five feet below the surface, was 97-0; 

 near the surface, in brackish water, 95-0. 



The hygrometer gave some rem.arkable readings during November and December, 

 showing, for Fiji, extreme dryness of the atmosphere : — On November 18, at 2 30 p.m., 

 dry bulb 93-6, wet bulb 74-8, diiierence 18-8, deductions— dew point 63-5, tension of 

 vapour -586, relative humidity 37. (Complete saturation of the atmosphere being 

 represented by 100. 



