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Volume 3, 1870
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Meteorological Statistics.

The following Tables, etc., are published in anticipation of the Report of the Inspector of Meteorological Stations, for 1870.

Table I.—Temperature of the Air, in shade, recorded at the Chief Towns in the North and South Islands of New Zealand, for the year 1870.
Place. Mean Anuual Temp. Mean Temp. for (Spring) Sept., Oct., Nov. Mean Temp. for (Summer) Dec., Jan., Feb. Mean Temp. for (Autumn) Mar., Apl., May. Mean Temp. for (Winter) June, July, Aug. Mean daily range of Temp. for year. Extreme range of Temp. for year.
North Island. Degrees. Degrees. Degrees. Degrees. Degrees. Degrees. Degrees.
Mongonui 60.7 59.9 65.7 62.3 54.7 15.2 52.0
Auckland 59.3 58.1 65.2 60.9 52.9 13.8 46.2
Taranaki 57.2 56.7 63.0 58.0 51.3 16.3 48.8
Napier 59.3 58.6 67.4 59.8 51.5 16.4 59.0
Wellington 55.4 55.0 61.8 55.3 49.4 11.6 46.5
Means, &c., for North Island 58.3 57.6 64.6 59.2 51.9 14.6 59.0
South Island.
Nelson 55.6 55.4 63.2 55.6 48.2 21.3 55.0
Christchurch 52.6 50.9 61.2 51.2 43.7 15.8 60.1
Hokitika 52.6 52.7 58.7 52.8 46.3 12.7 42.6
Dunedin 50.0 51.8 56.1 49.1 43.1 13.1 52.0
Southland 49.9 51.5 57.3 48.6 42.4 19.2 59.0
Means, &c., for South Island. 52.1 52.4 59.3 51.4 44.7 16.4 60.1
58.3 57.6 64.6 59.2 51.9 14.6 59.0
52.1 52.4 59.3 51.4 44.7 16.4 60.1
Means for Nth. and Sth. Islands. 55.2 55.0 61.9 55.3 48.3 15.5
– 354 –
Table II. — Barometrical Observations,—Rainfall, etc., recorded for the year 1870.
Place. Mean Barometer reading for year. Range of Barometer for year. Mean Elastic Force of Vapour for year. Mean Degree of Moisture for year. Total Rain Fall. Mean Amount of Cloud.
North Island. Inches. Inches. Inches. Sat.–100. Inches. 0 to 10.
Mongonui 30.010 1.576 .401 75 52.870 5.7
Auckland 30.015 1.398 .418 82 44.831 5.4
Taranaki 29.946 1.536 .355 75 54.720 6.4
Napier 29.881 1.705 .411 80 32.410 2.5
Wellington 29.845 1.270 .361 81 48.205 4.8
Means for Nth. Island 29.939 1.497 .389 78 46.607 4.9
South Island.
Nelson 29.870 1.218 .344 77 48.430 5.3
Christchurch 29.882 1.505 .324 81 28.364 5.5
Hokitika 29.934 1.530 .349 87 116.680 5.3
Dunedin 29.867 1.492 .290 79 39.202 5.6
Southland 29.831 1.540 .288 79 53.950 5.2
Means for Sth. Island 29.876 1.457 .319 80 57.325 5.3
29.939 1.497 .389 78 46.607 4.9
29.876 1.457 .319 80 57.325 5.3
Means for Nth. & Sth. Islands 29.907 1.477 .354 79 51.966 5.1
Table III. — Wind for 1870,—Force and Direction.
Place. Average Daily Velocity, in miles. Number of days it blew from each point.
N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W. Calm.
North Island.
Mongonui 172 13 40 41 42 29 75 19 64 42*
Auckland 318 39 43 27 26 57 80 44 26 23*
Taranaki … 19 38 9 83 16 106 54 38 2
Napier 242 26 72 15 48 66 65 36 36 1
Wellington 202 31 22 11 104 1 7 1 188 0
South Island.
Nelson 148 34 50 9 48 28 93 34 69 0
Christchurch 140 9 43 95 22 23 135 11 21 6
Bealey 133 1 37 1 22 1 25 0 223 55*
Hokitika 185 53 39 59 63 5 55 26 48 17*
Dunedin 171 25 43 19 16 26 50 95 17 74*
Southland 209 47 10 36 64 1 2 132 73 0

Average daily horizontal movement, in the North Island (four stations), 233 miles.

" " " " South Island (six stations), 164 "

" " " " New Zealand 198.5 "

[Footnote] * These returns refer to the particular time of observation, and not to the whole twenty-four hours, and only show that no direction was recorded for the wind on that number of days.

[Footnote] * These returns refer to the particular time of observation, and not to the whole twenty-four hours, and only show that no direction was recorded for the wind on that number of days.

[Footnote] * These returns refer to the particular time of observation, and not to the whole twenty-four hours, and only show that no direction was recorded for the wind on that number of days.

[Footnote] * These returns refer to the particular time of observation, and not to the whole twenty-four hours, and only show that no direction was recorded for the wind on that number of days.

[Footnote] * These returns refer to the particular time of observation, and not to the whole twenty-four hours, and only show that no direction was recorded for the wind on that number of days.

– 355 –
Table IV.—Bealey,—interior of Canterbury, at 2104 ft. above sea.
Mean Annual Temp. Mean daily range of Temp. for year. Extreme range of Temp. for year. Mean Barometer reading for year. Range of Barometer for year. Mean Elastic Force of Vapour for year. Mean Degree of Moisture for year. Total Rain Fall. Mean Amount of Cloud.
Degrees. 46.8 Degrees. 15.4 Degrees. 65.0 Inches. 29.770* Inches. 1.228 Inches. .256 Sat.–100. 80 Inches. 106.293 0 to 10 5.2
Table V.— Earthquakes in New Zealand, in 1870, recorded at the Government Meteorological Stations.
Station. January. February. March. April. May. June. July. August. September. October. November. December. Total.
Mongonui … … … … … … … … … … … … 0
Auckland … … … … … … … … … … … … 0
Taranaki … … … 4 … … 7*8 … 29 3,4 29 … 7
Napier 8,15,17 12* … … … 25* … … … … 2 … 6
Wellington … … … … 3,25 … 7* 11 30 3 10, 19 18 9
Nelson … … … … … … 7*8* 22 … 3 19 … 5
Christchurch … … 17*… … … … … … 31*… … … … 2
Bealey 10 … … … 21 13 … 24*31* … … … … 5
Hokitika … … … … 14 … … 31 1 2 … 19 5
Dunedin … … … … … … … 31 … … … … 1
Southland … … … … … … … … … … … … 0

The figures denote the days of the month on which one or more shocks were felt. Those with an asterisk affixed were described as smart shocks. The remainder were very slight and may have escaped record at some stations, there being no instrumental means employed for their detection. The only shock which damaged property was that at Christchurch on the 3 lst August.

[Footnote] * Reduced to sea level.

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