Minutes of Proceedings. xi 



The relations between barometric pressure and leak is somewhat 

 obscure in these observations, and the results do not give as yet 

 a definite relationship between the two. 



Daily observations have also been taken for one week in every 

 three months. 



A communication on the climate of East London, Cape Colony, 

 by J. E. Sutton, M.A., F.E.Met.S., was read. 



This paper is a summary of the meteorological observations made 

 at East London during the 21 years, 1884-1904, and a brief dis- 

 cussion comparing the results with those obtained at other stations 

 in South Africa. 



The annual variation of barometric pressure is of the same order 

 as that found elsewhere in the country, i.e., greatest in July and 

 least in January, and the mean annual range is also about the same 

 as it is at Durban and Kimberley. The mean pressure for the year 

 is about 30*03 inches with a total known range of 29*3 inches to 

 30-7 inches. 



The mean maximum and minimum temperatures are 72'2 degrees, 

 and 57*5 degrees respectively. The highest temperature on record 

 is 106 degrees (in April), the lowest 36 degrees (in July). February 

 is the warmest month, July the coldest, but the days in September 

 are colder than those in July and August, although the nights are 

 warmer. On account of the hot winds frequent in the winter half 

 of the year, the mean temperatures during the day are very little 

 less in winter than they are in summer, but the winter nights are 

 mucn colder than summer nights. Hot winds generally come with 

 a low barometer from some inland direction, and are very dry. At 

 East London they are confined almost entirely to the hours of day- 

 light, and have no very great influence upon the nocturnal tempera- 

 tures. They have also a semi-annual period, and very pronounced 

 ones seldom occur either in summer or in June and July. 



The monthly variation of cloud is similar to that of Kimberley ; 

 but the rain comes to its maximum intensity rather earlier. The 

 clouds pass over East London chiefly from the south-west, at 

 Kimberley chiefly from the west. Wind and clouds at East London 

 during rain also come chiefly from south-west, and the author finds 

 nothing in them to give any colour to the " south-easterly rain- 

 bearing clouds" myth. 



Emphasis is laid upon the interesting and important spell of low 

 temperature and pressure characteristic of the middle of July, which 

 occurs at East London, just as it probably does everywhere else in 

 South Africa at the same time. 



