412 
mr. a. w. preston’s meteorological notes. 
March. 
The weather of this month was extremely winterly nearly 
throughout. Tire first fortnight was most exceptionally cold for 
the season, the thermometer only rising to 40 degrees on two days, 
and the mean temperature for that period was 31.9 degrees, or 
nearly 10 degrees below the average. There were only three warm 
days during the month (the 17th, 18th, and 31st), and the 
preponderance of cloud was unusually large. There were frequent 
falls of snow, and on the night of the 9th — 10th the screened 
thermometer fell to 14.5 degrees, and on the grass 27 degrees of 
frost were recorded. The mean temperature of the month was 
36.6 degrees, or about 4 degrees below the average, and it was the 
lowest recorded for March since 1883, although in 1887 and 1888 
it was nearly as low. During the last fifty years March has only 
been colder three times, viz., in 1845, 1865, and 1883. 
April. 
The month opened with eleven days of unclouded sunshine 
accompanied, on some occasions, with unusually high day tem- 
peratures for April. On the 4th the temperature rose to the 
height of 75 degrees in the shade, and on the following day to 
72 degrees. A great change took place in the middle of the 
month. On the night of Good Friday (15th) a great fall of snow 
and rain took place, the total yield in forty-eight hours being 
1.28 inches. The whole of the Easter holidays were most ungenial 
and winterly, snow and hail falling at frequent intervals for several 
days. On the 16th the day temperature did not exceed 36.8 degrees, 
which is 38.2 degrees lower than eleven days previous. The 
remainder of the month was variable, some fine spring days being 
interspersed with cold, harsh weather. The mean temperature of 
the month was below the average, as has been the case in each 
April since 1886. 
May. 
The month opened with cold, changeable weather, north-easterly 
winds and cloudy skies. From the 2nd to 6th inclusive, the 
thermometer did not once touch 50 degrees, a most unusual 
occurrence so late in the season. The mean temperature for the 
