WEATHER FORECASTS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8482, 13 May 1893, Page 4

WEATHER FORECASTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRE 33.

Sir,—Capt. Edwin has put in his report on "Forecasting the Seasons" to tho Minister ot Public Works, and he is not favourable to the enlargement of the meteorological department, by such an extension of his present prophetic power as to be able to foretell the varied seasons I The Maoris are able to do this by their observation of certain plants. When Piazzi Smith, in 1866, ascended the mountain of Teneriffe, in order to make certain observations, the party got a letter from the town of Oratava, expressing the deepest sympathy for them:—" ' Oh, what dreadful weather you must have been suffering I Down here we have had for three weeks the most frightful continuance of storms, constant clouds, rain aud howling winds; and if that was the case with us, what must it not have been with you at the greater height.'" Y.t at the greater height, at that very time, the air was tranquil and serene, the sky clear, and bad weather entirely confined to that lower depth in the atmosphere beneath the "grosser clouds." From this one would be inclined to infer that meteorological observations taken at elevated positions over the colony might be a great help to the central forecasting de* partment at Wellington.-—Yours, Ac., Colonist.