MU. A. W. PRESTONS METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. 
61 
gave a mean temperature coinciding with the average. The Summer 
temperature was high, but did not, on the mean, exceed that of 
1897 owing to the prevalence of easterly winds on some days, 
which were exceptionally warm further inland. The Autumn was 
mild, but less so than in 1898. The rainfall was deficient in each 
season except the Spring, which gave an excessive fall of rain. 
The Summer was so exceedingly dry that the amount of rain was 
less than half the average. No Summer has given so small a rainfall 
since 1885. The Autumn fall was normal. 
The Year. 
The chief features of the year were an abnormally mild Winter, 
followed l>y a somewhat coarse and ungenial Spring, giving place 
at the advent of June to a Summer of almost unsurpassed beauty. 
The long continuance of bright, sunshiny days, the warm nights, 
and the almost entire absence of any bad weather to mar the 
enjoyment of outdoor entertainments, will long he remembered. 
The Summer may he said to have consisted of practically unbroken 
fine weather from the 1st June to the middle of September, with 
a second edition in October. The absence of frost in November 
assisted to prolong the season, but December was accompanied by 
much severe weather, and was generally more winterly than for 
several years past. The Summer may be classed with those of 
1818, 1825, 1846, 1859, and 1868 as one of the finest, hottest, 
and brightest of the century. The rainfall of the year was, for the 
fifth year in succession, below the average, the deficiency having 
been, in 1895, 1.99 in.; in 1896, 3.62 in.; in 1897, 4.83 in.; in 
1898, 3.67 in.; and in 1899, 2.96 in., or a total deficiency of 
17.07 in. in the five years. 
It may be mentioned that the instruments of this Station were 
examined by the Royal Meteorological Society’s Inspector during 
the year, and were found in proper working order. 
