Xll 
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR I9I5. 
In respect of barometric pressure it should be remembered 
that the unit of atmospheric pressure is the millibar, and that 
1000 millibars= 29,531 mercury inches. 
A Mean Pressure of 1012*5 mbs. has been recorded as against 
a pressure of 1012*6 mbs. for 1914. February was lowest with 
iooi'o mbs., December next with 1001*3 mbs., and January 
next with 1001*5 mbs. May was highest with 1019*6 mbs., 
and June and October being 1018*4 mbs. and 1018*3 mbs. 
respectively. The extreme range of pressure was 73*1 mbs. 
as compared with 74*8 mbs. for 1914. The highest reading of 
the barometer was taken on Nov. 20th at 9 p.m., viz. :—1043*3 
mbs., and the lowest 970*2 mbs. on Jan. 1st, at 9 p.m. 
Rain or Snow fell to the amount of 625 mm. The heavy 
rainfall occurred in the three months December (133 mm.), 
July ( 100 mm.), and January (75 mm.) The total rainfall for 
the year is 625 mm. or 25*25 inches, the largest fall for one 
day occurring on September 1st, when 28 mm. fell. Our driest 
months were June, October, March and April. The cumulative 
totals for the wettest months since 1840 are now : October 
198*23 inches, August 197*07 inches, and July 187*49 inches. 
In this connection it may be interesting to record that places 
in the British Islands marked by heavy rainfall have this year 
had a much less amount, Seathwaite being 25*96 inches down, 
or 20 % of its usual amount, while the South-Eastern Counties 
have as much as 13 % more than their average. 
Observations of winds show that during 1915 we have had 
“ strong ” winds on 45 days as against 61 days for 1914, and 
“calms” on 12 days as against 11 for 1914. The chief winds 
have been observed as W. (289), S. (218), S.W. ( 75 ). N.W. 
(96), N. (194), E. (101). We have had 41 days of “ clear ” 
sky, and 107 of “ overcast ” as compared with 56 and 98 
respectively for 1914. Hence may be inferred the farmers’ 
difficulties in hay time and harvest. There have been 14 
thunderstorms and 20 fogs as against 7 and 14 respectively for 
the previous year. Snow fell on 17 days as against 4 for 1914, 
and 11 for 1913. 
Bright Sunshine was observed for 1337 hours as compared 
with 1356 for 1914, representing 30 % of the possible amount. 
