SAXBY'S WEATHER SYSTEM TESTED IN CHRISTCHURCH.

West Coast Times, Issue 164, 28 March 1866, Page 3

SAXBY'S WEATHER SYSTEM TESTED IN CHRISTCHURCH.

A table appended, showing the days ©n which storms, high winds, heavy rainfalls, or other remarkable atmospheric distivrbances occurred in Christchiu'ch, in 1865, lias been prepared principally to test how much reliance can be placed on the prognostications of Mr Saxby, as set forth and explained in his " Lunar Weather System." The following paragraphs, extracted from the above work, explain in a few words, the principal features of Mr Saxby's lunar theory, and may interest those who have not seen the hook itself, "I find that the phases of the moon, properly so called, do not perceptibly affect the weather." '• That the period of new moon has a marked influence on the weather,

when occurring near the periods of knaar equinox or lunar stitial colure, arid' f.haf> this influence is heightened considerably, if at the same time the moon be in perigee. That the mere fact of her being new or in perigee ifl of no importance at any other times, so that when the lunar equinox or stitial colare occurs at the same period as the new moon in perigee, the greatest atmo«pacric disturbances xo wliich our earth is liable, may then be expected with certainSj' of fulfilin 'lit. ! " Now, cither the moon crosses out equator, or is a£ her stitial colure (or greatest distance from our equator) about once in a week," .... "therefore, there is an atmospheric disturbance from this cause, say 6nc& a week, and it is invariably traceable" &c. In the following list there are 89 clays which 1 proved disturbed in a marked degree in 1-865, of these 23 coincide with Mr Saxby's suspected periods as foretold by liim, to- wbieh must be added 30 more. According J to his stipulation for " the day after,* and especially the second day after," I and fcli'e day previous, there remain 36 wliich do not correspond at all with any of these. Of tlie three greatest storms previously described, which occurred during the year, one happened the day after ; the second, two days alter ; the third, four days after the dates in his list. Four periods in tL:e year, from a combination of causes, are pointed out by Mr Saxby as particularly liable to be unsettled ; of these one passed off quietly, the weather being remarkably /me for some time before and after ; hut on each of the remaining dates, bad! weather occurred in a marked degree, The corresponding dangerous periods in the present year, will take place on or about the following days, viz., April 15th, May 15th, June 12th, i and July 12th. On very many of Saxby's days, however, although the weather may not break, more or less disturbance in the atmosphere may be observed (particularly by those who have instruments at their own command) such as scud, snowing by its swift motion the proximity of a gale ; very changeable winds flying all round the compass in twenty-four hours; or backing, or clouds driven in various directions at once ; sudden calms ; sudden frosts &c : but it is probable that what Mr Saxby calls the " efficacy of local influences," such, for example, as the neighbourhood of the high mountain chain running through this island, will be found to be so great as, in a great measure, to counteract the proper fulfilment of his predictions.