mr. a. w. preston’s meteorological notes. 
531 
Temperature was in close agreement with the average, but 
absence of frost kept garden flowers, particularly roses and dahlias, 
in bloom most luxuriantly to a much later period than usual. 
November. 
The first fortnight was exceedingly mild, the mean of the period 
having been about 5 degrees above the average, and 4.7 degrees 
higher than that of the first fortnight of the previous May ! An 
abrupt change to cold took place on the 16th followed by milder 
weather at the month’s close. There were no particularly sharp frosts 
during the month, although the East wind accompanying the cold 
weather of third week killed many of the more delicate of the 
garden flowers. The mildness of the earlier days of the month 
resulted in good dishes of peas being gathered from the garden as 
late as the 14th, five days later than I ever recollect having had 
them from the open. Rain fell on ten days only — a rare occurrence 
in November — and in the third week the roads were as dry and 
dusty as in March. 
December. 
The month at first promised to be a cold one, the day readings 
of the earlier part of the month having been persistently low. The 
easterly winds and gales of this period, accompanied as they were 
on some days, by snow, made the meteorological conditions 
exceedingly uncomfortable. The rainfall was deficient, for the 
fourth month in succession. During Christmas week the weather 
was exceedingly fine, mild and spring-like, with a remarkable 
absence of frost. 
The Seasonb. 
The following Tables show the mean temperature and rainfall of 
the four seasons, together with those of the five previous years, 
compared, as to temperature, with the average of the twenty years 
1883 — 1902, and as to rainfall with the 38-year average mentioned 
below. Winter comprises the three months, December to February 
inclusive ; Spring, March to May ; Summer, June to August ; and 
Autumn, September to November. 
