mr. a. w. preston’s meteorological notes. 
599 
November. 
Tliis was the first wet month since October, 1892; but notwith- 
standing the heavy downfall of the latter part of the month, the 
year’s rain was then still 7 inches below the average. The tem- 
perature was medium, and there were not many frosts. Tho 
weather was at times exceedingly stormy and boisterous, and the 
disastrous gale from the north on the 18th was the most severe 
experienced on this coast for many years. 
December. 
This was, on the whole, a very mild month, the mean temperature 
being nearly 2 degrees above tho average, and t degrees warmer 
than the previous December. The month came in with a brief 
spell of winter and a fall of snow which remained on the ground 
until the 3rd, when a rapid thaw set in, and mild stormy weather 
ensued with hardly a frost until the 30th, on which day, and the 
following, a sharp rime frost occurred. The second and third 
weeks were very boisterous, with disastrous gales at times, that on 
the 12th (from the south) being nearly as severe all over the 
country as the great northerly gale of November 18th. The 
thermometer exceeded 50 degrees on four days, and on the 13th 
the unusually high maximum of 56 degrees was attained. The 
barometer fluctuated much, and the range was remarkably large, 
the lowest reading on the 20th (28.G6 inches) being the lowest 
since November, 1891, and only nine days later it attained a higher 
elevation (30.73 ins.) than on any occasion since February, 1890. 
The rainfall was again deficient, although the humid state of the 
atmosphere on many days made it appear as if more rain had fallen 
than was actually gauged. The Christmas holidays will be 
memorable for the magnificent, cloudless, spring-like weather which 
prevailed throughout, Boxing Day being more in keeping with the 
close of February than the winter solstice. 
The Seasons. 
The following tables show the mean temperature and rainfall for 
the four seasons, together with those of the six previous years, and 
of a twenty-year approximate average : — 
