OBSERVATIONS ON THE WEATHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1242, 18 September 1875, Page 8

OBSERVATIONS ON THE WEATHER.

The subject of the weather is, as a rule, adverted to but in very general terms by landsmen. Even agriculturists, to whom the question is one of very considerable consequence, confine their calculations to its phases of wetness and dryness, for, excepting when the grain iB in the ear and approaching ripeness, apprehensions on the score of wind are seldom obtruded. To seamen, however, the laws which govern that unseen, but, in its effects, potent element, air, are of the utmost moment, and to understand them, to be " weather wise," has, time out of mind, been regarded as an accomplishment aimed at by the many, but acquired by the few only. But by the application of latter-day Bcience, difficulties that once seemed insurmountable have been bridged over, and one of nature's secret recesses partially laid bare to the investigations of the practical man of every- j day life. To "follow the wind in his circuits," is no longer regarded as an impossibility, as has been very clearly demonstrated by such men as the late lamented Lieut. Maury and Admiral Fitzrot. The maritime world •owes a very deep debt of gratitude to these men. The ideas evolved by their fertile minds have been seized upon by others, and advanced by the march of progression another stage towards perfection. One of the aims of the age we live in i« the absolute conirol of the weather by aquiring the ability to foretell with certainty the numerous and manifold fluctuations it is subject to. How much has been accomplished in this direction has been rendered patent by the \ success that has attended the establishment of T/vind and weather observatorie throughout the civilised world. In many cases, the predictions of observers are really startling in their accuracy, and the rapid dissemination of the opinions formed upon those observations have been the means of preserving thousands of valuable lives, and untold treasure of ships and merchandise. One of the subjects introduced by the Hon. I the Commissioner of Customs in his late I statement to the New Zealand Parliament relative to marine matters, was that of storm signals and weather gauging. We were rejoiced to see, by that statement, that the Colony was keeping pace with the spirit of the age. and that the new branoh of the Marine Department introduced last year had already acquired some degree of excellence, and had proved its utility on more than one occasion. That branch waa initiated by the establishment of a oentral weather-observ-ing station at Wellington, under the superintendence of gentlemen of high practical and theoretical attainments. So far, practical effect has not been given to the series of observations taken. What has been done has, in a measure, been tentative, in order to lead to a decision as to the advisabiliiy of perfecting the system by establishing storm signals at all the chief ports of the Colony. The observations at the Wellington Observatory have extended over a period of sixteen months, and the predictions therefrom have been from time to time transmitted to all ports connected with Wellington by telegraph. ; The Harbour Department of this Port has had its full share of advices 5 and i with what acouracy they were compiled is evidenced by the fact that of the many aent quite two-thirds proved correct prognostications. The latest case in point waj that relating to yesterday's weather. On Thursday night the Harbour Department received a notification from the Wellington Observatory to "look out for a falling barometer and strong easterly weather.' 1 The prediction was verified to the letter, for glasses did fall, and throughout Monday it blew hard and increasingly from the northeast. "V7e are of opinion that enough has been accomplished in the way of experiment to warrant the Government iatmueiog storm signal at £he principal