METEORIC DUSTS, N.S.W. 269 



record for previous 24 hours was 98 max. 60 min., and the wind 

 blowing strong from the north-west, and the country was covered 

 all day with a light haze which did not appear at all like smoke 

 nor like ordinary dust. This continued all day, and on Tuesday 

 morning the thermometer record for the previous 24 hours being 84 

 max. 55 min., the wind blowing strong all day from the same 

 point, the country was still covered with haze. To-day Wednes- 

 day the 23rd, the thermometer record for previous 24 hours was 81 

 max. 57 min., wind blowing from the same point, the haze has quite 

 disappeared. The wind during the whole time seemed cool and 

 moist, which seemed the more remarkable, as we have for weeks 

 past been having hot dry winds from the same point. The 

 idea which suggested itself to me was that there had been heavy 

 rain in the north-west, as the feeling in the air and the appearance 

 was much like what sometimes occurs in Sydney when a southerly 

 buster comes up after a very hot day." — W. E. Abbott. 



"Dust Storm of August 14th, 1885, as seen at Hay. — The 

 night of the 13th August, during the ride in the coach from Gunbar 

 to Hay was most beautifully clear. At the commencement of the 

 last stage, 20 miles from Hay at 5 o'clock a.m., August 14th, the 

 wind was blowing pretty freshly from the North. Later on there 

 was a magnificent sunrise, the air being as clear as could be. On 

 reaching Hay about 7*30 a.m., the wind was blowing strongly 

 and increased up to 10 a.m., when it was blowing in heavy gusts 

 from the north. It continued in this way till about 2'30 p.m., 

 when it gradually grew calmer and veered to the south-west. At 

 7*30 a.m. the barometer stood at 29 396. It fell steadily until 

 2 p.m. when it commenced to rise. About 10 a.m. the whole 

 place was enveloped in a light reddish-brown fog, which continued 

 all day. The particles of dust composing this fog, if it may be so 

 called, being too fine to be seen, no motion was observed although 

 the wind was blowing in strong gusts. The day was warm and 

 rather close, the temperature being 70°. A light reddish-brown 

 dust was deposited on everything. The wind got much calmer 

 towards evening, and after sunset a slight shower of rain fell. 



