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Table V. exhibits the duration of sunshine expressed in hours, from half an hour before to half an hour after the hour (true time) named.

Table VI. exhibits the amount of rain (or dew) in inches registered from half an hour before to balf an hour after the hour named. It exhibits also the estimated duration of rain.

Table VII. exhibits the velocity of the wind in miles and its direction in points (1-32). The velocity is measured from half an hour before to half an hour after the hour named, but the direction is read off at the hour.

Table VIII. exhibits the amount (0-10), nane (Howard's classification) and direction whence coming of the clouds. Where the names of upper and lower clouds, are given, but only one direction this refers to the lower clouds. With regard to the names of clouds, nimbus (nim) is only entered when the rain is seen to fall; when no rain is seen to fall cumulo-nimbus (cum-nim) is entered, and this name is also used to indicate clouds intermediate between cumulus and nimbus. Cumulo-stratus (cum-str) is the well known thunder cloud, and strato-cumulus (str-cum) signifies a cloud intermediate between stratus and cumulus.

Table IX. exhibits for every hour in the day the mean velocity of the wind reduced to 4 as well as 2 directions, according to strictly accurate formulæ, and also the mean direction of the wind.

Below this is printed a list of the phenomena observed.

24. The following annual Weather Report for 1896 is arranged as follows:-

Table VII. exhibits the mean values for the year (or hourly excess above this) obtained from the monthly reports. The total duration of rain was 1020 hours. There fell at least 0.01 inch of rain on 154 days.

Table VIII. exhibits the number of hours during a portion of which at least 0.005 inch of rain (or dew) was registered.

Table IX. exhibits the number of days with wind from eight different points of the compass. The figures are obtained from the mean daily directions in Table VII. of the monthly reports. Days, with wind from a point equi-distant from two directions given, are counted half to one of these and half to the other, e.g., half of the days when the wind was NNE are counted as N, and the other half as NE.

Table X. cxhibits the number of days on which certain meteorological phenomena were registered and also the total number of thunderstorms noted in the neighbourhood during the past year.

Table XI. shows the frequency of clouds of different classes.

Table XII. is arranged as last year.

Table XIII. exhibits the monthly and annual extremes. The extremes of humidity and vapour tension are only approximate as the hourly values are not calculated.

Table XV., XVI., XVII. contain magnetic observations.

25. Observations of magnetic declination and horizontal force were made by Mr. PLUMMER and reduced by Mr. FIGG with the unifilar magnetometer Elliott Brothers, No. 55, and the dips were observed with dip-circle, Dover No. 71.

The methods adopted in making the observations and in determining and applying the corrections are explained in Appendix G. of Observations and Researches made in 1885: On the verification of the unifilar magnetometer Elliot Brothers No. 55." The value of log 2 K was 3.44920 at 25°. The value of P was +5.042. The mean value of the magnetic moment of the vibrating needle was 0.45070 in English units and 588.42 in C.G.S. units.

The times of vibration exhibited in the table are each derived from 12 observations of the time occupied by the magnet in making 100 vibrations, corrections having been applied for rate of chronometer and are of vibration.

The observations of horizontal force are expressed in C.G.S. units (one centimeter, one gramme, one second), but the monthly synopsis exhibits X, the horizontal, as well as Y, the vertical, and total forces, which have been computed by aid of the observed dips, and their values are also given in English units (one foot, one grain, one second) and in Gauss's units (one millimeter, one milligram, one second).

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

W. DOBERCK, Director.