The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 66
Climate. — Meteorological Observations
Climate.
Meteorological Observations.
Meteorological observations have been made ever since the founding of the colony, though at first they were of an irregular character, and only with the view of comparing the climate of New Zealand with that of other countries. From 1853, meteorological reports appear regularly appended to the Registrar-General's statistics; but it was not until 1859 that systematic observations were undertaken by a department established by Government. In that year, eleven stations, equipped with carefully-compared instruments, were established at Mongonui, Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, and Wellington, in the North Island; Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill, and some years later at Hokitika and Bealey, in the South Island.
I. | A provisional return obtained by telegraph of the results at the chief towns, which is appended to the monthly report of vital statistics. |
II. | An abstract of the results for each month, compared with the averages for the same month in previous years, is published in the Gazette and circulated in a separate form to all correspondents. These abstracts are intended for the guidance of agriculturists and other persons who require to watch the peculiarities of each season closely. |
III. | Tabular abstracts, in the same form that has been followed since 1853, are prepared for the annual volume of statistics. |
IV. | A biennial report on the climate, embodying all the most interesting results, is published in octavo pamphlet form and largely circulated. |
In addition to the above, daily telegraphic reports of the weather are obtained at 9 a.m. from twenty-five stations, and are exhibited for public information at all the shipping ports in the colony. Since page 60 1874 this branch has been placed under the charge of a special signal officer, who issues warnings of the probable approach of storms to the different seaports.
The following tables embody the averages which have been ascertained for the different elements of the climate of New Zealand.