BY THE REV. R. F. WHEELER, M.A. 331 



Thunder was not heard, at North Shields on the 19th. Thunder 

 was heard, but Lightning was not seen, at Wallington on the 

 8th. Thunderstorms occurred at Cresswell on the 25th ; at 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne on the 25th ; at North Shields on the 25th. 

 Hail fell at Wallington on the 11th, 25th, 28th, and 30th. Snow 

 or Sleet fell at Byrness on the 20th ; at Otterburn on the 7th 

 and 20th ; at Wallington on the 6th, 7th, 12th, 19th-23rd, 25th, 

 26th, and 30th ; at Alnwick on the 7th, 21st, 22nd, and 29th ; 

 at Dyke Head, near Elsdon, on the 22nd, 29th, and 30th ; at 

 Eothbury, on the 6th, 7th, 12th, and 22nd-31st ; at Cresswell 

 on the 7th, 22nd, 26th, and 31st ; at Whitley on the 7th, 20th- 

 23rd, 27th, and 30th ; at Seaham on the 7th, 12th, 21st, 22nd, 

 27th, 29th, and 30th; at Greta Bridge on the 6th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 

 21st, and 23rd-31st; at Darlington on 12th, 21st, and 25th- 

 27th; at Acklam, near Middlesbro', on the 6th-8th, 12th, 21st, 

 26th, and 31st; at Gainford on the 6th, 21st, and 27th. 



The Begistrar General reports that — " During the last quarter 

 of the year scarlet fever, often capricious in attacking single fa- 

 milies, yet constant in sweeping away children living in unna- 

 tural conditions, was excessively fatal. In the Stockton-on-Tees 

 sub-district alone one hundred and fifteen lives were sacrificed. 

 The authorities of the town will do well to ask ' the reason why.' 

 In Newcastle and Tynemouth the epidemic was comparatively 

 mild, and it was still milder in the rest of Northumberland." 



Estimated Persons to Annual rate to 



Population. an acre. Deaths. 1000 living. 



Newcastle-on-Tyne 133,367 25 743 22"3 



Sunderland 100,979 31 543 21-5 



South Shields 68,514 ... 407 23"8 



Gateshead 44,405 ... 259 23"3 



Tynemouth 40,599 ... 223 22-0 



RAINFALL RETURNS. 



The editor has again to express his gratification at the number 

 of returns of the rainfall in the two Northern Counties, which 

 have been sent in to the Club for the year 1870. He regrets, 

 however, very much, that the additional returns which he hoped 



