THE DROUGHT OF 1890-91.
512 -structive. The monthly rainfall for these two years compared with the mean of the 20 years period, is shown in the Diagram.
(5) Taking the drought of 1890-91. The rainfall for the twelve months commencing 1st May 1890, was 66.96 ins, as against an average of 91.76, or about 72.86% of the average. The whole year cannot be considered as an exceptionally dry one, the minimum being usually found to be about 67% of the average. The rainfall of the four wet months was 57.62 as against an average of 60.34. The wet season was one of almost normal rainfall, but the rain which fell during the eight dry months was only 9.34 inches as against an average of 31.42 or less than one third.
The rainfall of May was below average, that of June about the average, and whilst that of July exceeded the average, all the subsequent months were below average, excepting December, which was almost the average.
The rain-year 1890-91 may be considered as one of low, but not excessively low rainfall, but having an unfavourable distribution.
The percentage available for collection, cannot be computed for the wet season, because the reservoirs overflowed; and there are no means of measuring the overflow with any degree of accuracy. Mr Cooper however states that on 29th August, the Pokfulam reservoir ceased to overflow. No information is given as to the cessation of the overflow at Tai Tam. I gather from the data, which I discussed in my report of 1894, that the overflow at the latter reservoir, continued up to a somewhat later date.
The figures, given in Mr Cooper's ...