COUNCIL FOR 1887 . 
13 
and sunshine is curious, and shows how largely the former 
depends upon the prevailing wind. 
Rain fell upon 175 days, or about 15 less than the average 
since 1871, although exceeding the average of the previous 30 
years by 20 days. The total drought, lasting from early June 
into July, was perhaps the longest rainless period we have had. 
The Rainfall (17’42) is small beyond precedent. It falls 
short by one and one tenth inch, of the least previous record, 
that of 1854, and is nearly 22 J inches less than the maximum in 
1872. The monthly average was reached in May and exceeded 
only in January and September. 
Floods have naturally been rare; none following the two 
heavy falls in September and October. Except in January, 
when it reached 12ft. 8in. on the 20th, the highest levels are 
7Jft. on February 4th, and 6Jft. on November 8th. It remained 
at or below ‘‘ Summer level ” for nearly half the year. 
The Barometer has ranged above the average in every 
month, except November and December, so that the mean for 
the year (30*000) is decidedly high. The greatest excess was 
in February (30*299), when it remained above 30, from 2 a.m. 
on the 4th, to 2 a.m. on the 17th, and above 30*5 from the 6th 
to the 13th. On the other hand it fell below 29 on six occasions. 
Throughout the whole of the three summer months it main¬ 
tained an unusually constant level. The prevalence of 
Northerly winds is noticeable. 
No Auroras have been reported, nor indeed should we 
expect them, since the sun has beeen almost entirely spot free 
throughout the year. 
We again have to thank Henry Richardson, Esq., for 
additional returns from Cherry Hill and Cherry Bank; and 
Richard Thompson, Esq., for the tables from Oswaldkirk. The 
complete set of tables will be found at the end of the Report, 
with the addition of some very interesting and valuable 
summaries of 30 years’ rainfall observations at Hull, for which 
we are indebted to Harold Smith, Esq., F.R.M.S. The 
remarkable variation in five year averages, reaching a 
maximum in that ending 1882, agrees with observations 
throughout the country. 
