mr. a. w. preston’s meteorologicai. notes. 
recorded in November for many years. It was a dry month, the 
rainfall being about half the average, and the barometer was 
generally high. 
December. 
During the first fortnight the weather was exceedingly gloomy, 
damp, and dismal, with rain daily. A colder period ensued from 
the loth to the 24th, with some frost and snow, but the frosts 
were by no means severe, and the snow did not remain long upon 
the ground. The last week was stormy and changeable, mild, 
bright days alternating with stormy winds and heavy rains. On 
the whole the month was a mild one, with a. great excess of rainy 
days, though the falls were at no time abnormal. 
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, dune to August; and Autumn, September to 
November. 
TEMPERATURE. 
Seasons. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
189T,. 
1896. 
20-year 
average. 
Departure 
o( 1896 from 
average. 
Winter 
Spring 
Summer 
Autumn 
do trees. 
33.9 
44.0 
58.9 
50.9 
degrees. 
37.0 
44.9 
58.3 
48.S 
degrees. 
36.5 
49.1 
61. *2 
50.0 
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 
degree.*. 
37.8 
46.2 
60.2 
49.5 
degrees. 
+ l.S 
+ 1.8 
+ 0.9 
— 1.0 
Y ear 
47.7 
46.9 
49.6 
49.2 
48. 4 
49.3 
4S.4 
' + 0.9 
RAINFALL. 
Season*. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1891. 
189o. 
1*96. 
20-year 
average 
Departure 
of i8l»6fron 
average. 
In. 
in. 
in. 
in. 
in. 
in. 
in. 
in. 
Winter . . . 
3.10 
6.36 
5.80 
4. SI 
7.35 
3.28 
6.02 
-2.74 
Spring . 
6.64 
5.10 
1.61 
5.62 
4.15 
5.18 
5.21 
— 0.03 
Summer 
9.39 
10.20 
5.37 
8.74 
7.51 
4.8S 
7.17 
— 2.29 
Autumn ... 
7.00 
11.15 
6.10 
7.12 
7.13 
8.49 
8.50 
— 0.01 
Year 
28.85 
31.05 
19.66 
27.32 
24.91 
23.28 
26.90 
- 3.62 
