NOTES IN FORMER TEARS.

Southland Times, Volume VI, Issue 506, 2 July 1866, Page 3

NOTES IN FORMER TEARS.

1858. August very fine and diy, constant easterly wind. Terrific equinoctial gales from 20th to 30th September, N. N.W. and W., felt throughout N.Z., especially at Taranaki and Manukau. Violent thunderstorm during gale of 28th, lasted 20 minutes, lightning intensely vivid and right overhead ; thunder tremendous ; hail fell to the depth of 2 inches, hailstones half-an-ii.ch in diameter. Great fall of rain on Oct. 22, 3*17 inches in 24 hours. Very hot weather in Dec, above „80deg. in shade on 15 days, above 90deg. on five days. 1859. , Heavy thunderstorm Jan. 21. Solar balo on 24th. Feb. 7, thunderstorm No rain from Feb. 11 to March 7th, on that evening violent thunderstorm, lightning very vivid and varied in colour (pink, blue and yellow r ) ; one splendid discharge of globular lightning of deep red colour ; 250 Hashes during storm. April 3rd to May loth, very wet and stormy. Heavy snowstorm (3 inches) on 19th June. Magnificent weather from 25th June to 26th August. Severe frost in July, below 20deg. on five days; greatest cold 12de^. on 19th (7 deg.. on grass). August 27th, heavy N.W. gale ; 29th, snowstorm, eight hours (3 inches). Sept. 2, fine aurora australis, in form of crimson arch, extending overhead from E. to W., colour very bright". Severe N.W. gales from 6th to 22nd October, especially on 7th, Ilth and. 13th ; great damage done in Dunedin ; weather very dry. On 18th splendid aurora australis in form of half dome, composed of bars of light which changed from pink to red, blue, yellow, violet, and finally green. Constant drought from Sept. 4th to end of year. j 1860. | Drought continued. Violent N.W.^galp- diu-'r,^ Jan. 39th au^ s^-h. LMiCh damage done. Gale from W. and WIS.V. ou I'V-b. l '--.7 .;.- ;:ui 20. -rale from N.N.W. on March 26. Bain <m owlr '-^ rl; 7 ™ -a-pr.-i. Drought continued to 4th of May ; when a lica^.^- '--i mm .-^u-red, 312 inches registered. Thundfa-sion*! ;n oib •-.-'■■■*■•■ V/.N W. gale on isth. June very dry; sharp frost o-j IH'm'i ;>n-.l At A-, u'.iUHLiu»:i. i4deg. j lunar rainbow on 25th ; fine aurora australis ,',.. 'aaA.. 'r>'A--- vt-< m--gi_eric cyclone from July 20tb to 27th, blowing from N.W. VY'., 7 aud £.'.&., with snow, sleet and rain. August, one of the worst months on record ; 17 days of wet and stormy weather ; great storm from 18th to 20th ; serious floods, Makerewa rose 14 .feet. . Heavy snowstorm on 16th (3 inches,) thunderstorms on 17th and 18th. Aurora australis on Ilth and 12th (the finest ever seen here ; two splendid columns of crimson light in S.W. and S.E., flanking an arch of vivid green crossed by yellow bands ; brilliant coruscations shot up as high as the zenith) and 13th (slight). Constant drought from 21st August to end of year. Heavy snowstorm on 3rd October, 4 inches deep ; severe N.W. gales on 2nd, Bth and 24th ; S.E. on 4th and s^h ; no rain from sth October to 14th Nov., on that day thunderstorm. Rain on only one day in September and Dec. In latter month thermometer above SOdeg.iu shade on 17 days, and above 90cleg. on 4 days ; furious gale from E. on 20th, In . \V. on 6th, and W, on 16th I7th and 26th (ail cyclonic). 1861. Constant drought and great heat, 94deg. in shade, and 134deg. in sun. From 21st of January to 7th February, temperature every day above SQdeg. in shade, on 10 days above 90deg., and on 4 days above 92deg. Gale (E) on Ilth Jan., and thunderstorm, on 30th, Field of wheat cut on 21st of January. Frost on 15th Feb. ; on 26th and 27th gale, W.S.W.; on Ist, 2nd. 3rd and 4th of March, and on 24th from N.W., on 29th S.E. April 82ud, gale, S.E., with great fall of rain, 824 inches in g4 hours \ great floods, Mataura bridge carried away, In May no ram fell • thick xugU _ fogs, especially o« 26th, fallowed by long and geyere easterly gale* In June severe storm, W.N.W to W.S,W.> lasting a week, in which time 8$ inehe** of rain fell; heavy floods* Makerewa fOBSf ; X^ feet, July gOthj gal© (J&), V«ay severe drought , ;&o^ when a heavy saowstoi-m ocyuM-ed, "j;*i3ttc!fe§^ta^i#^^?-]'' iVo-sj, (&)degOv*-M Ihe fruit destroyed ' : "V-'"' ■■'",' . n r - '' .'■" " ;■•'.-■- \ ' ' •'■■■ 'A te'7V^>;'?W * j