98 
THE GREAT KIMBERLEY DIAMOND MINE. 
Draakensberge, on the slopes of which the Yaal river has its 
source, rise to 10,000ft. above the sea. It is a point of 
interest to notice that the new gold field in the Transvaal is 
within about 500 miles of the Kimberley diamond mines, in 
a north-east direction, and is at a level about 8,000ft. higher, 
or 7,000ft. above the sea. 
METEOROLOGICAL NOTES.— February, 1884. 
Tlie barometer was low at the commencement of the month, but 
rose an inch in two days, reading on the 3rd 30*395 inches, its highest 
point during the month ; from this it fell steadily, with dull weather, 
to the 9th, when it rose till the 14th. A gradual fall, till the 23rd, 
was succeeded by another rise, till the end of the month. Slight gales 
were experienced about the middle of the month. Temperature was 
nearly 2 degrees above the average, though lower than that of January. 
The mean of maxima, 47°.4, differed but slightly from that of January, 
but the mean of minima was 2°.3 lower. The lowest air temperatures 
(4 feet) were 21°.6 at Hodsock, 25°.5 at Strelley, and 26°.3 at Coston. 
On the grass the thermometer fell below 32°.0 on thirteen nights, a 
minimum of 15°.2 being recorded at Coston on the 29th. The maxima 
varied from 52°.7 at Strelley, to 55°.1 at Loughborough. Rainfall was 
decidedly below the average ; there was no snow, but slight showers 
of graupel (soft hail) fell on two or three occasions. There were no 
special features of interest during the month, but, being comparatively 
mild and dry, vegetation did not receive any of the checks to which it 
was exposed in its very forward state. 
Wm. Berridge, F.R.Met.Soc. 
12, Victoria Street, 
Loughborough. 
Mr. Clement L. Wragge, the well-known astronomer, is about to 
start an astronomical and meteorological observatory on the banks 
of the Torrens, at Gilberton, South Australia, observations to be com¬ 
menced on 1st January, though the preliminary operations will not be 
fully completed till some days later. An astronomical telescope, one 
of Wray’s finest equatorials, with object glass 4| inches in aperture, 
has yet to be unpacked and mounted. Numerous appliances have 
been provided. The house will be called the Torrens Observatory. 
