5

H.—l6

With the view of enabling them to select such points as promise greatest probability of clear weather at that season, I am requested to favour the Observatory with information as to the general character of the weather at divers points in New Zealand during the months of November and December, with respect to wind, clouds, fog, and temperature. What is needed is chiefly a record of observations during November and December, 1872 and 1873, showing the fraction of sky which is covered with clouds at three different hours, say 8 a.m., noon, and 4 p.m. on each day. If any such record is kept by any Meteorological Institution connected with your Government, the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory and myself would esteem any information addressed to the undersigned upon this subject a special favour, and it would be most gratefully received. I have, &c, Jas. Gr. White, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. U.S. Consul.

No. 8. The Hon. J. Hall to Mr. J. G. White. Sie, — Wellington, sth November, 1872. I am directed by Governor Sir Gr. F. Bowen, G.C.M.Gk, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th of October, requesting that certain meteorological information may be communicated to you for the use of the U.S. naval authorities, to enable them to decide upon the most favourable post of observation for viewing the transit of Venus, which will occur in December, 1874. In reply, His Excellency requests me to inform you that inquiries are being made upon the points on which you desire information, the result of which shall be communicated to you at an early date. In the meantime, I may inform you that the Astronomer Eoyal of England purposes to send out an expedition to observe the transit at Christchurch, where arrangements are in progress for the construction of an observatory. I have, &c, J. G. White, Esq., U.S. Consul. J. Hall.

No. 9. Memoeaitdttm for Mr. Coopee. Meteoeological observations have been made continuously at eleven stations during the last seven years, but only recording the state of the sky at one period of the twenty-four hours, viz. at 9.30 a.m. The average temperature, rainfall, and amount of cloud, at five principal stations, during the month of December, as shown by these observations, is as follows : —

Published abstracts of the Meteorological Eeturns are enclosed herewith, and extracts from the daily records for the month of December at the above stations will be copied. Instructions have been given to the observers throughout the colony —twelve in number—to observe the proportion of clear sky, state of atmosphere, and direction of wind, at 9.30 a.m., noon, and 4 p.m., during the months of November and December. Bth November, 1872. James Hectoe.

No. 10. Mr. J. Or. White to the Hon. J. Ham. S IE) U.S. Consulate at Auckland, 26th November, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communications of the sth and 18th instant, respecting certain meteorological information in connection with the transit of Venus in 1874. Permit me to tender to His Excellency Sir Gr. F. Bowen, through yourself, my thanks for his distinguished consideration of my request on behalf of the U.S. naval authorities, for certain information upon this interesting subject, and for the copy of Dr. Hector's memo., and his Meteorological Eeport for 1870, which you had the goodness to enclose under cover with your favour of the 18th instant. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, Jas. Gh White, New Zealand. U.S. Consul.

M , C Lat., 36° 50' S. \ .uckland ... | Long; l74 o 50 , 40 , s _ j „ ,,. , C Lat., 41° 16'25" S. ) Wellington J Lon^ 174 o 4r 2Jf E _ j , , f Lat., 41° 16' 17" S. 7 Felson - [Long., 173° 18'46"E. | ,, . , , , C Lat., 43° 32' 16" S. 7 Ihnstchircli ... | Lon ' l72 o 38 ' 59 '/ E . j , ,. f Lat., 45° 52'11" S. \ )unedin - | Long., 170° 31'7" E. j Temp. 656 605 614 60-0 560 Eamfall. 3749 3.909 5-050 1-638 3-404 Eamy Days. 15 12 9 9 14 Average C 63 4-9 59 4-9 5-8 31OUI