METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 3205, 30 October 1876, Page 2

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

The following are taken from self- ! registering instruments, which furnish records for the previous 24 hours. Fine warm weather for the whole of the week with steady barometer and little rain. The highest recorded barometer for the week was 30-22 on the 28th, and lowest 29-90 on the 2 2nd. Mean for the week 30-11. The highest thermometer in the sun was on the 27 th, being 93 degrees. The highest registered in the shade was on the 27th, 78 degrees ; and lowest on the 97th. Mean for the week — highest, 73 degrees ; and lowest, 57 degrees. "Very little' rain fell during the week. There was a slight shower measured on the 23rd of -07, and on the 28ch of •03 ; making a total of only 10 for the week's rainfall. Hereundet- we append an accurately compiled schedule, showing the rainfall binca the 29th of August : August 29th, -20; 30th, -21; 3 1st, •33. (September Ist, -10 ;" md -09 ; 3rd, -83 ; 4sh, -39. For the week—

2-15. September sth, -05 ; 6th, '27 J 7th, -01 ; Bfch, -05 ; 9th, 04. For the week— -42. September 13th, -10 ; 14ch, -41 ; 15th, -06 ; 16th, -12 ; 17th, •05; 18th, -40. For the week— l-14. September 12th, -15; 23rd, -32; 24th, •34; 25th, -09. For the week— -90. September 29th, -03. October 13 th, .09; 14th, -42. For the week— -51. October 19th, -22; 20th, -33. For the week — -65. October 23rd, '07; 28th, -03. For the week— 'lo. Thus showing a total rainfall for the previous eight weeks of 5-80 inches. By comparing this with the riso or subsidence, as recorded in the report of the Lake for each week, or. for the aggregate period specified, and taking into account the quantity of water passed through the siphon, as iudicated by the meter, a close approximate to the quantity absorbed by exhaustion in other ways, or which percolates through subterranean channels, can be arrived at. During the past week the thermometer has on several consecutive days stood very high as compared with other places in the colony. We bace our observations, on the sheet furnished by the telegraph department. On Thursday, in Wanganui, by that report, the thermometer in the shade stood at 78, while on Saturday it was 66, and ranged from that to 57 and 55 respectively, in other localities. The former was a most exceptional temperature, being 8 degrees higher than at Napier, 5 above Castlepoint, 14 above Invercargill, 16 above Christchurch and Nelson, 12 above Taranaki, 10 above Tauranga, and 9 above Auck land. The terribly oppressive sultriness of the atmosphere on. both those days was remarked by many. During the last three days the temperature at the places specified hereunder, has varied in a remarkable manner. Thus Wanganui has ranged from .78 to 64, Napier from 70 to 60, Castlepoint from 73 to 68, Invercargill from 64 to 60, Nelgon from 62 to 65, Tauranga from 68 to 58, and Auckland from 69 to 72. Christchurch and Taranaki only varied one degree each in the three days. But the position of the thermometer at "Wanganui, as compared with places where from latitude, elevation, and surroundings, a different result should be expected, is really very hard to explain, [and the feature has caused considerable discussion. Slight as has been the rainfall for the past eight weeks, as shown above, the barometer still points to a continuance of fine weather.. Fine it may be termed, but a prolongation of the fineness may be farught with calamatous consequences. New Zealand, as a rule, is exceptionally free from dry seasons, but many are inclined to anticipate a continuance of the present drought, from which many parts of the colony have suffered considerably already. In Ireland there has not been such a hot dry season as last summer and autumn, for the space of over 30 years ; and from Australia we have learnt of the terrible results accruing from unprecedented insufficiency of rain.