WEATHER AT LEESTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6507, 4 January 1882, Page 6

WEATHER AT LEESTON.

December, 1881. This month opened with dull and cloudy weather, with slight rain, unproductive to the growing crops. From the middle of tho month to the end warm weather set in, and increased warmness followed to end of the month. As a rule the wind has been light or breezy, but towards the end of the month strong north-west winds have been blowing. A regular gale blew from tho same quarter on Dec. 30, which, it is to be feared, has done great damage to tho corn crops in this neighbourhood ; this, coupled with tho want of rain, from a farmer’s point of view, is not pleasant to think about. Few perhaps have seen the pasture land in such a dried up condition, reminding one of the appearance of the middle of Germany about the end of the summer. Some persons imagine (hat the climate hereabouts is becoming dried, but this is not home out by facts, for the rainfall for this year is in excess of previous yeais. The following is Christchurch average for 15 years up to 1879—24.907 inches; the total rainfall for 1881 here is 26.536 inches. Why I have noticed this particularly is thau no mistaken notion may be formed on this subject, and that agriculturists may not be prevented from coming to settle in New Zealand through the supposed light rainfall we have. It, therefore, is to be very much regretted, that the meteorological depftts are not used at present, so that this important point (rainfall) can bo most carefully recorded. If this is not done it may tell very much against our future prosperity, through the absence of ench data, on which we may be able to establish the fact that wo have a climate not surpassed by any other country, suitable to the wants and requirements of agriculturists. SUMMARY.

Total 31 31. Total 31 31 Barometer. 8 a.m., 18)1. 8 a.m., 1880, inches. inches. 24th Max. 80 05 21st Max. 30 08 30tb. Min. 29 22 29th Min. 29-88 Mean 29-635 Mean 29 98 Mean lor year 29-901 Mean for year 29'89 Do for 15 years 29 879 Do for 14 years 29-884 Christchurch. Christchurch. Thermometer. 8 a.m., 1881. 8 a.m., 1880. 24fch Max. 78 Fahr, 9th Max. 69 Fahr. 6th Min. 54 „ 31st Min. 54

Mean 68 Fahr. Mean 61’5 Fahr. . Mean for year 57 Mean for year 55 Do for 15 years 53 3 Do 14 years 53.3 Christchurch. Christchurch. WEATHEB. 1881. 1880. Fine 19 days Fine 19 days Wet 5 „ Wet 9 „ Cloudy or dull 9 „ Cloudy or dull 3 „ Thunder 1 „ Hail 1 „ 1881. Bain gauge. 1880. Inch. Inch. For month ... -905 For month... 2-025 For year ...26535 For 15 years... 24 907 Christchurch, 1831. Number of fine days, 231. Number of wet days, 96. Hottest month, December. Hottest day, Dec. 24 or 26, Coldest month, August. Coldest day, June 26. Wettest month, July. Wettest day, July 19. The records ore for the previous 24 hours. The station is about 65ft above the sea level, but the records are not reduced to it.

Winds. 1881. 1880. 8 a.m. 4 p.m. 8 a.m. 4 p.m. NW 6 days 11 days 4 days 4 days N 2 „ 4 „ 7 8 „ NB 1 „ 2 „ 2 t) 3 „ SW 7 „ 0 „ 3 2 „ 8 10 „ 4 „ 9 » 7 SB 3 „ 4 „ 5 99 5 „ w a „ 6 » 0 99 1 „ E o „ 1 » .1 )) 1 „ — — — —