H—34a

5

The Thied Secies of Expeeiments. On the 22nd everything was ready for a trial on a larger scale. There was a cloudy sky, a rapidly falling barometer, following a frosty night, and local indications fell in with the wider aspect of affairs—rain before long. The explosions were as follows : — Gun-cotton, Dynamite, Gunpowder, Weight of How made up. I,me - lb. lb. lb. Charge, lb.. r Baki's Table. (10) 3.30 p.m. ... ... ... 100 ... 100 In 10-gallon oil-drum. (11) 3.40 p.m. ... 100 ... 100 (12) 3.50 p.m. 50 150 ... 200 (13) 6 p.m. ... ... ... 150 50 200 In case and keg. At Dalgety's Hill, Duntroon. (14) 3 30pm ... ... 33 67 ... 100 In 10-gallon oil-drum. (15) 3.39 p.m. 33 67 ... 100 (16) 3.49 p.m. 33 67 ... 100 At Bound Hill, Totara. (17) 3.30 p.m. ... ... 25 25 ... 50 In gun-cotton case. (18) 3.40 p.m. ... ... 25 25 ... 50 (19) 3.50 p.m. ... ... 25 25 ... 50 (20) 3.55 p.m. ... ... 25 25 ... 50 The charges were primed with dry gun-cotton and fired by dynamite detonator attached to a slow-burning fuse. In nearly all cases complete detonation took place, but it would have been much more satisfactory had each case of explosives been connected and the explosions made by electric current. In one instance it was noticed that three cases of dynamite exploded—one upwards and two others sideways, and not quite simultaneously —so that it appeared as if a single cap was not sufficient for complete detonation. Thus, however, we had both effects—explosions ballistic in character and detonations shattering. From Eaki's Table I watched the experiments at Dalgety's Hill, five miles and a quarter to the north-east, and those at Eound Hill, nine miles and a half to the south-east. The skies were again very heavy—stratus clouds were between 800 ft. and 1,000 ft. above the Table most of the time, and hung low, but well defined underneath all round, excepting in one bright patch away to the south-west, where there was an arch over a mountain range. The wind at first was a light north-west and later shifted to the south-west without much change in the clouds, except perhaps they lowered as the evening advanced. This time, so far as we could see everywhere, there was no apparent change made by the explosions, and the smoke drifted upwards, and then gently away on the breeze. The barometer falling slowly all the time, the high relative humidity approached saturation at sundown; but, though the mist looked heavy all about, the rain was not quite ready, and explosions did not seem to expedite matters. Up to that time the experiments certainly were ineffective in the precipitation of rain. It did, however, come some hours afterwards, and some people in the locality might possibly attribute this result to the experiments, but those who were actual eye-witnesses on those lonely heights could, I imagine, hardly entertain such ideas. Those efforts were puny in comparison with the mighty forces which were at that moment developing independently over thousands of square miles in a cyclone similar to, but more intense than, the one which had brought rain only a few days before. It did indeed seem to be following in its tracks. Earn commenced at Oamaru about midnight on a north-east wind, and was general throughout the district of north Otago, and, though central Otago did not benefit as much as was expected, yet so far as the Oamaru district was concerned the dry period was at an end, and there was great rejoicing everywhere. The rainfalls of the locality, placed, as usual, to the previous day to that on which they are read at 9 a.m., are as follows : — Windsor otekaike . Living- Arnmore . K urow. Waimate. Oamaru. Totara. K *^ oo Park. stone. mil. 22nd 0-47 0-19 0-41 035 0 23 0-43 039 0-30 031 23rd ... 1-44 0-88 1-12 1-65 0-44 2-10 2-02 2-24 1-88 Geneeal Obseevations. Besides the valuable statistical information acquired by me in Oamaru, an increased interest in meteorology itself has, I trust, been a direct outcome of these experiments in the district. Though science may not yet be able to forecast drought-periods, yet they may be promptly recognised, and then, with the aid of experience to be gained from other lands, combated on scientific lines, and by turning adverse circumstances to good account, success may be wrested even from apparent failure. These costly efforts in rain-making are regarded at present as misguided and vain by all scientific meteorologists, while to their chagrin really valuable work is often neglected for want of public interest. On this visit I have established four new third-class stations for the observation of rainfall in the Oamaru district,'and 1 earnestly recommend the establishment of one secondclass station at Oamaru. The whole matter with regard to rain-making experiments resolves itself into the question, Can man according to the dictates of his needs either directly or indirectly produce rain upon the earth ? Professional rain-makers in civilised countries have made repeated efforts, and by various