FORECASTING THE WEATHER.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2235, 27 April 1881, Page 2

FORECASTING THE WEATHER.

The march of scientific treatment has progressed by marvellously rapid strides during the last few years. Mr Edison and bis coadjutors threaten to oust the use of gas for illuminating purposes, and the introduction of the telephone has already worked a revolution in modes of inter-communication amongst business-men in the States, and, to a great extent, in Western Europe. Electricity or other motive power bids fair to run coal very close in the propulsion of locomotives, and what may almost bo termed automatic machinery has dared to rear its unwelcome head in antagonisim to the compositors of the leading journal of tho world. Such changes, however, are duo to tho victory of human brains, stimulated by the keen competition which an universal cuttingdown of prices induces, over mechanical difficulties, It remained for Captain Filzroy, in England, to anticipate tho weird designs of Nature by turning weather-observations to practical account by transmitting them by telegram, and so to put tho public on their guard as to coming storms. Yesterday’s telegram from Melbourne, announcing that the Intercolonial Meteorological Conference have decided to arrange for the exchange of weather-telegrams between New Zealand and Australia, will remind travellers of General Meyer, Chief Signal Officer of the War Department, popularly known as “Old Probabilities,” who in 1870 was authorised by a resolution of Congress to take observations throughout the States as to the approach of storms and their probable strength, and who has long out-dis-tanced the Captain’s attempts in that direction.

North America, with its land width of over 3CDO miles from east to west, and having the bulk of its population in the cast, enjoys exceptional facilities for meteorological observations, especially ns the germ of cyclones usually fructifies in the Mexican Gulf, sweeping thence over the east of the States. So accurately do the General’s subordinates calculate indications, that more than 95 per cent, of the prophecies are fulfilled; and Mr Wm. Saunders tolls how “ business and pleasure are more or less regulated by the wcathorwise information telegraphed from 'Washington.” Such faith is imposed in it that any ship captain failing to act upon warnings when published would vitiate his insurance in the event of anything untoward occurring. The farmer ploughs, sows and reaps accordingly. Butchers ascertain what temperature will prevail before they till their cattle or pigs. The physician looks up the forecasts to see if it will bo safe to order a delicate patient for a drive. The cost for securing the information in the States is £30,000 annually, but this amount is considered trifling for the value received. The Southern Hemisphere does well to adopt a system which so largely economises both life and property. The ladies of New Zealand will no doubt profit by the prognostications presently in store for us. As the day draws near for an open-air flower show, or a picnic at Governor’s Bay, mamma will consult the oracle and see whether it is prudent for her fair daughters to order a selmon-colored silk, or prepare for bad weather with a warm material of sombre hue. Thus the eye of eligible bachelors, with a taste for harmonies in drees, will not be distressed by seeing a bright (and expensive) costume hanging limp and shapeless around his fiancee, because she “never thought it would

rain.” True, be might be able to afford her partial shelter with an umbrella. But, stay ! the Parisian papers speak of a return to crinolines as not unlikely. “ Stiffened muslin," whatever that may portend, is already in vogue, and some of us old fogies have a vivid recollection that amplitude of skirt is unfavorable to propinquity in either fair weather or foul.