﻿438 A])pendix. 



Notes on the Weather during 1871. 



January. — Northerly weather prevailed throughout the month, attended 

 with excessive rainfall at the north extremity of the Islands, and small amount 

 of rain with average humidity and high atmospheric pressure in the south. 

 Average of pi'essure for all stations, 0'162 above that usual for this month, and 

 temperature 04 above the usual average. A meteor on the 1st was observed 

 over an aret^ of 630 miles from N. to S. and 250 miles in width, passing through 

 the zenith at Picton ; altitude less than 30 miles ; form pear-shaped ; apparent 

 length 1°, and diameter of head 10' j detonation heard within a radius of 80 

 miles from Picton. Meteor of 27th ci-ossed North Island from N.E. to S.W., 

 almost as brilliant as the above. Auroras in south. 



February. — S.W. gales on 2nd and 9th, but atmospheric pressure tolerably 

 uniform during the early part of the month, the maximum occurring after 

 new moon on the 20th \ it then declined one inch to the minimum on the 

 28th, when a southerly storm was felt throughout the whole islands, but most 

 severely in the middle portions. The wind, followed by heavy rain, blighted 

 the vegetation on the coast in a very unusual manner. This storm made the 

 rainfall for the month excessive, especially in the North Island and on the 

 East Coast of the South Island. The temperature was 1'9° below the usual 

 average for the month. Frequent auroras in south. 



March. — Yery wet and stormy throiighout, except in Southland, where it 

 was unusually dry and calm. A heavy storm from 24th to 27th from N.E., 

 changing to W., was felt generally throughout the colony, but at Auckland 

 it assumed the character of a cyclone ; about same date a violent hurricane 

 took place at Fiji, when 20*03 inches of rain fell during 19th and 20th, and 

 from 19th to 24th 29*35 inches was recorded. The S.W. srale at Wellington 

 on 5th and 6th appears to have been local. Painfall excessive throughout. 

 Aurora general on 23rd. 



April. — Fine weather in the south-western districts, but stormy and wet 

 elsewhere, with frequent thunder storms, especially at Mongonui, where 3*74 

 in. fell in 24 hours on 4th, with N.E. wind. Auroras frequent in extreme 

 south. 



May, — Frequent thunder storms and much unsettled weather, prevailing 

 S.W. wind. Atmospheric pressure during the month only slightly above the 

 average, but marked by great steadiness, the only disturbance being on the 

 3rd and 4th, when a dip of ^ , lasting for twenty-four hours, was recorded at 

 most stations. Prevalent westerly weather, with excessive rainfall on the 

 western slopes of the Southern Alps. At Bealey, on 4th, 5 '5 6 inches fell in 

 24 hours. 



