MATAKANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2730, 11 July 1906, Page 35

MATAKANUI.

July 6. — For the past week the barometer in this part of the world ha® been steadily dropping. It dropped a full Sin m the 24 hours. Everybody foretold a severe storm, except those -who had no barometers. They, indeed, laughed the barometer owners to scorn. Blue sky. fleecy cirrus clouds, balmy days,, and bright moon/light nights together with a steady N.W. wind, provided sufficient justification for their laughter. And, truly, when the barometer fell to 28.05, and no change even then visible in the- climatological phenomena, some observers seriously thought of taking their stupid, lying barometers out to their front doors, and! showing them the glorious •weather thait was being enjoyed. However, on Thursday, without pny further warning, the -wind came and all that day and all the next we enjoyed Matakanui zephyrs. Other placea call a. similar wind a hurricane. Our hurricanes blew railway engine sheds across railway lines, -and blow down willow tree 9 mare than 2ft thick.

Aurora Australia — A bright auroral, or. perhaps, electrical, display was visible in the south just when the gale was at its fiercest, but the brightness of the moon prevented it being seen to advantage.

Mmmg — All the claims here are working feverishly, night and day, to avail themselves to the utmost of the extremely mild weather •we have been getting. It has not been the case for many a yeaT that miners have been working full time in the first "weak of Jroily. They are usually frozen out weeks before this time of the year. But in very many ways the last summer, ••ututnn, and winter have been most exceptional.