NEW SOUTH WALES. 177 



I have also those kept at Port Macquarie, to the north, and at Port 

 Philip, to the south ; the following are some of the results from them. 



During the winter months, June, July, August, and September, on 

 the eastern coast, they have the winds from the south to the west 

 quarter, blowing strong and cold, not unlike our northeast winds, 

 accompanied by rain. The quantity of rain which fell in the winter 

 of 1840 was 35-25 inches; in 1841,45*00 inches. The temperature 

 during this season is from 40° to 78°, mean temperature, 6Q°. During 

 the summer months, October, November, December, January, and 

 Februarv, easterly winds prevail, and the temperature varies from 5G° 

 to 90° ; the mean temperature being about 78°. On the south coast, 

 as appears from the tables kept at Port Philip, the winds pursue a 

 reversed order ; for during the summer months they are found to pre- 

 vail from the southward and westward, whilst in winter they come 

 from the eastward. The mean standing of the barometer seems to be 

 higher at Port Philip than at Port Jackson and Port Macquarie ; its 

 range is within 0-5 in., and at the two latter places it seldom reached 

 30-000 in. During our stay at Sydney, the range of the barometer 

 was generally higher than this. The temperature of the winter months 

 varies from 35° to 65°: the mean is about 47°; and that of the summer 

 months from 50° to 98°, the mean being 68°. 



The above observations relative to the winds on the south and 

 eastern coast, will serve to explain some of the difficulties that have 

 resulted from vessels taking the southern route round New Holland, to 

 proceed west. These, during some seasons of the year, have met 

 constant head winds and storms. It would seem that the most feasible 

 time to make the southern passage to the westward, is during the 

 winter months. The probable cause of this difference is the immense 

 vacuum which is formed on the vast plains in the interior of New 

 Holland during the summer, that is supplied by these southerly winds. 

 But it is not altogether certain that these winds prevail at any distance 

 from the land. They were described to me rather as regular breezes, 

 prevailing during the day, moderating towards night, and succeeded 

 by light land-winds until the following morning. The intermediate 

 months between the summer and winter, or those about the equinoxes, 

 are attended with variable winds and uncertain weather, but from 

 information I received, they do not appear to suffer here from very 

 violent gales during these seasons. Severe gales are, however, expe- 

 rienced at these seasons at New Zealand, in the same latitude, of 

 which I shall speak hereafter. 



Our own results for the time we stayed in Australia will be found 

 under their appropriate head. At Sydney I found a great variety of 



vol. ii. 23 



