only necessary to remember that New Zealand stands in the centre of the greatest expanse of ocean in the globe, to perceive the powerful influence of this cause.

WINDS.

In probably no country in Europe is the atmosphere so frequently agitated by winds as in New Zealand, the prevailing direction being from N. W. and S. W., with occasional storms from the opposite quarters. The mean velocity of the wind is 7.6 miles per hour, and the strongest wind yet registered at Auckland exerted a pressure of 35 lbs. on the square foot, equivalent to a velocity of 844 miles per hour; a gale is indicated by a velocity of 50 miles an hour. The winds in New Zealand do not appear to differ in force and frequency as we advance southwards from Auckland, although Cook and Foveaux Straits are celebrated for stiff breezes and gales.

It is only requisite to remember that with every breath we cast out vast quantities of dead animal matter, which is swept away by the wind, to perceive the influence which a constant agitation in the atmosphere has on the health.

HOT WIND.

In several places on the eastern coast of New Zealand where there are mountain chains ascending about 3,000 feet above the level of the sea, a hot wind is occasionally experienced in summer. This hot wind melts the snow on the mountains of the Middle Island, swells the rivers fed from these sources, and rushing down on the plains in different directions, according to the shape of the valleys, raises the thermometer 20 or 30 degrees. Fortunately, for vegetation, this hot wind is generally the precursor of rain. On one occasion, on the Canterbury plain, a thermometer exposed to this wind rose to 113 degrees Fahr.

Different theories have been propounded as to the cause of this wind. It is probably, in some rare cases, due to an elevated current of the hot wind from the Australian continent, which is interrupted and directed downwards, while the lower current of this Australian hot wind is generally, but not always, entirely cooled by passing over the surface of the sea before reaching the western coasts of New

Zealand.

That this wind is thus sometimes due to the influence of Australia may also be inferred from vessels sailing from New Zealand to Sydney having been kept back for days a long distance from

the Australian coast by hot winds, and from the occasional, although rare, occurrence of a wind of about 70 degrees being experienced at Auckland and other places on the western coast of the North Island, when westerly winds, with fine weather, have been blowing for several successive days in summer.

In the majority of cases, however, the hot wind is local, being on the east side of the mountains and simultaneous with excessive rainfall from the northwest on the windward side, the impetus of the wind which forces it across the range being due to a difference of atmospheric pressure, the barometer being high on the west coast at the commencement of the hot winds, and low on the east side of the mountains.

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.

According to the observations recorded, the air exerts a greater pressure over the North Island that the South Island, the average reading of the barometer for the former being 30-010, and for the latter 28 831. The winds in New Zealand, unless of considerable force, are so modified by the shape of the islands that they are nothing but eddies from the greater polar and equatorial currents. Generally wind from the equator, which brings rain, depresses the barometer, and southerly or polar winds, accom panied by fine weather, raise it.

OTHER ELEMENTS.

Earthquakes are felt in every part of New Zealand. but are more frequent in that portion of the country lying between White Island, latitude 37°-30 S., and Stewart Island, latitude 47° S. All the earthquakes registered since the arrival of the settler have been slight save those of 1848 and 1855. The New Zealand atmosphere on the east coast is t much disturbed by thunder storms, but in the neigh bourhood of high mountains and on the west coas these phenomena are more frequent. At Nelson, an average of eleven years, twelve thunderstorm occurred annually; and at New Plymouth, seven.

Fogs are rare in the northern parts of New Zealand, but they increase in frequency and duration as we advance southwards. Hail storms occur. The Aurora Australis is frequently seen, and is nat rally more common in the south. Shooting star of great brilliancy and magnitude have been recorded, and notably one on the 1st January 1871, which was seen throughout the whole length of New Zealand, travelling from north to south; its apparent size when nearest the earth, as seen from Cook Straits, being one-third the diameter of the

moon.

STATIONS.

NORTH ISLAND.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

The climate of the Eastern and Western districts vary, but are both peculiarly healthy. The winter and spring months are the most agreeable and pleasant. The summer heat is oppressive, but does not affect health. Lung diseases, and other affections common in cold climates, as well as fevers, and the liver diseases of hot climates, are very rare throughout S. Africa; a fever, however, of a low typhoid type, carried off several hundreds of inhabitants during the last few months in 1867. Neither Asiatic cholera nor Hydrophobia has been known in the colony. Even Measles and Small-pox only occur at intervals of many years.

The range of the thermometer is considerably less than in England. The general temperature is much higher, but from the dryness of the atmosphere during the greatest heat, the degree indicated by the instrument is far beyond any personal discomfort or inconvenience caused.

Exposure to the mid-day heat of summer is unpleasant but not dangerous. The nights are generally cool, and the cold of winter is only sufficient to be bracing, frost or snow being rare or unknown, except in very elevated tracts of country. About once

in 4 or 5 years the drought may partially injure the crops. In some parts of the Eastern districts, and sometimes during wet seasons in the Western, the wheat is liable to rust, but on arable lands in favour

Maximum Velocity in Miles in

any 24 hours, and Date.

(May)

1',, 12

0.14 "

To the frequent winds may be attributed the noted salubrity of the Cape climate, particularly the absence of those fevers of the bilious remittent type which in many other countries are produced by marsh miasma or by continued calm hot weather.

From observations made by the Royal Engineer department at Graham's Town, in the eastern province, latitude 33° 18′ 10′′, and east of the Cape Town Observatory 7° 50′ 45′′, supposed to be 1,750 feet above the sea, during 16 months from September 1854, to December 1855, it appears that the mean temperature was about the same there as at Cape Town, viz.:— Cape Town

Graham's Town

62.96

63.55

nooks that grain can be ripened, or European flowers brought to any degree of perfection. There are several beautiful flowers indigenous to the islands; but, with one or two exceptions, these all creep and blossom on the ground; and the only approach to a tree is the Falkland Islands box, a species of veronica, which grows to a height of perhaps three feet, and affords no protection either to man or beast. The natural conformation of the ground is good, but, owing to the want of timber, and to the sombre color of the grass, the general appearance of the country is extremely barren and desolate.

In winter the weather is, happily, less boisterous than in summer. Were this not so, the cold from May to September would be almost unendurable."

HONG KONG.

In a Report dated in August 1845, the Governor stated that he was not aware of a single death since the month of January previous, in the classes raised above soldiers, &c., or working men. Even the troops had been healthy up to that advanced period of the hot season, and the Governor felt certain that the disuse of groundfloor dwellings, and the observance of ordinary rules of precaution, would render Hong Kong as healthy as most other places in the world."

The Colonial Secretary, in a report dated 9th November 1866, after confirming the above statement, adds:-"I consider this a remarkable climate for the tropics. The cool weather of Hong Kong, which lasts five months, is a great advantage; but it is not to be denied that the variation of temperature, after a lengthened residence, tells surely and severely on the European constitution."