60 
mr. a. w. preston’s meteorological notes. 
barometer falling at 7 p.m. to as low as 28.50 in., being the lowest 
recorded here since December, 1886. It was accompanied by a gale, 
but of less severity than has sometimes been experienced with 
a higher barometer. The rainfall of the month was about half an 
inch deficient. Snow fell on four days, but no very heavy falls 
occurred, although the ground was covered with snow for eight 
successive days. 
The Seasons. 
The following Tables show the mean temperature and rainfall for 
the four seasons, together with those of the five previous years, and 
of a twenty-year approximate average. Winter comprises the three 
months December to February inclusive ; Spring, March to May ; 
Summer, June to August; and Autumn, September to November. 
TEMPERATURE. 
Seasons. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
20-year 
average. 
Departure 
of 1899 from 
average. 
Winter 
Spring 
Summer 
Autumn 
degrees. 
39.2 
47.7 
59.3 
50.1 
degrees. 
34.7 
47.6 
60.4 
51.4 
degrees. 
39.6 
48.0 
61.1 
48 5 
degrees. 
38.3 
46.9 
61.9 
50.3 
degrees. 
41.3 
45.8 
59.7 
54.0 
degrees. 
42.6 
46.2 
61,9 
51.2 
degrees. 
37.8 
46.2 
60.2 
49.5 
degrees. 
+ 4.8 
0.0 
+ 1.7 
+ 1.7 
Year 
49.2 
48.4 
49.3 
49.5 
50.5 
49.8 
48.4 
+ 1.8 
RAINFALL. 
Seasons. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
20-year 
average 
Departure 
of J 899 from 
average. 
Winter ... 
Spring ... 
Summer ... 
Autumn ... 
in. 
4.81 
5.62 
8.74 
7.12 
iu. 
7.35 
4.15 
7.51 
7.13 
in. 
3.28 
5.18 
4.88 
8.49 
in. 
7.86 
5.05 
4.17 
6.42 
in. 
4.11 
6.18 
6.90 
5.65 
in. 
5.82 
6.84 
3.52 
8.31 
in. 
6.02 
5.21 
7.17 
8.50 
in. 
— 0.20 
+ 1.63 
— 3.65 
— 0.19 
Year 
27.32 
24.91 
23.28 
22.07 
23.33 
23.94 
26.90 
— 2.96 
It will be seen from the above that the temperature of the 
Winter was largely in excess of the average. No Winter has been 
so mild since my observations were commenced in 1883, the nearest 
approaches having been 1883 -4, with a mean of 40.4 degrees, 
and 1897 — 8, with 41.3 degrees. In fact, we have to go back to 
1876 — 7 for a Winter of so high a mean temperature. The Spring 
