RAINFALL ON THE COAST.

Kumara Times, Issue 592, 20 August 1878, Page 2

RAINFALL ON THE COAST.

The “ Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, for 1877,” edited by Dr Hector, C.M.G., F.R.S., have just appeared. The institute with its affiliated societies, is doing a huge amount of scientific work. There are a considerable number of men in the colony who work hard at geology, botany, zoology, and other sciences. Many of the papers are most interesting. Dr Hector drew attention to “ a paper by Mr Russell, the Government astronomer at Sydney, which states that, the slightest earth-sh xjks felt in New Zealand are nearly always recorded on the tide-gauges in Sydney an I Newcastle.” Dr H ec'or and others are carefully studying volcanic, earthquake, and tidal-wave phenomena. The meteorological reports in the volume •show the varied character of the New Zealand climate. The difference in the rainfall of the diff**reiifc districts is quite startling. At Hok.tika, on tlm West, Co'.st, last year, the rainfall was 13Gin.; while at. Christchurch, in almost the same latitude, hut on the Hast Coast, only 2-iin. fell; and at Cape Campbell, a little further north, even this small amount was reduced to 16iu. In the Appendix are some meteorological observation male by Mr Holmes at F'ji in the year 1877. The total rain hill during the year was 805 inches, of which 42 inches fell in January alone, but it was an exceptionally dry year, the average rainfall being llSin.