METEORIC DUSTS, N.S.W. 271 



siderable violence during this time. After sunset rain commenced 

 to fall in showers with strong gusts of wind, and with the rain a 

 quantity of mud fell which bespattered everything. As an 

 instance, iron tubs placed under spouts had one eighth of an inch 

 of a red deposit at the bottom this morning, and roofs and out- 

 buildings bore traces of the discolouration. Twenty seven points 

 fell up to 9 o'clock this morning, and the barometer has been 

 gradually rising since, although light showers have fallen at 

 intervals through the day. As a mud or dust storm seems so 

 unseasonable at this time of the year, I have dried a small quantity 

 of it, and enclose in this letter, as it may be useful in your obser- 

 vations on the subject. The country in this immediate neighbour- 

 hood is too damp from the effect of the recent showers to furnish 

 any dust. I may state that the altitude of this place above sea 

 level is 1,036 feet according to Mr. Railway Surveyor Jamieson, 

 who kindly informed me some time ago. The highest reading of 

 the aneroid has been 29*36 since I have had it." — R. J. Barr. 



"Narandera "Argus" Office, August 24th, 1885. 

 " Some time since Mr. Bryce Blair of Buckinbong Station near 

 Narandera, requested me to forward to you details of the very 

 severe dust storm which passed over this district on Friday the 

 6th of February last. I enclose herewith extracts from the Argus 

 of the 7th of February, which of course can only be accepted from 

 a paragraph point of view. My personal experience I give you 

 briefly in narrative form — " I returned to my office shortly after 

 two o'clock, there was at that time every indication of a heavy 

 dust storm coming from the west, in the course of half an hour the 

 town was enveloped in dense clouds of red sand, that was no more 

 than the usual experience at intervals during the summer, but 

 suddenly, there came a black column (like the densest smoke in 

 appearance) which made the place darker than the darkest night 

 I ever experienced, it was in fact the first occasion upon which I 

 realized absolute darkness. Many people in speaking of it after- 

 wards assured me that they had, from very fear, to remain where 

 they were when overtaken by this cloud, for myself I may say 



