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2
Account of the Weather during the year 1896.
During the first quarter of the year Nome very cold weather was experienced.
In February the cold wag intense, causing considerable inconvenience to householders
on account of the water-pipes being frozen, The cold spell began about
the 21st of January, and extended through February until the 9th of March.
In February the thermometer registered 9.9 degrees lower than the average for
a similar period for 124 years. In the latter part of March the weather was
warmer than usual.
The amount of rainfall measured during the first, quarter was 3.465 inches.
The prevailing wind was N.N.E. The excessive cold weather had a bad effect
on the health of the district; the very young and elderly persons were most
affected. Twenty-seven deaths wore registered during the first quarter—five
from lung diseases; three from wasting diseases: two from consumption; six
from convulsions; the remaining eleven from various diseases not dependent
on the weather.
In the second quarter of the year the mean temperature of the air was 55.1
degrees, which is 2.8 degrees above the average for the similar period of 124
years. The prevailing wind was N.N.W. The rainfall measured 1.86 inches,
which is about one-third of the average amount in the second quarters of 80
years. The number of deaths registered was eleven. Scarlet fever and
measles were prevalent in the district during this quarter, but no deaths were
caused through those illnesses.
In the third quarter of the year the mean temperature of the air was 62.3
degrees, which is 2.7 degrees above the average in the third quarters for 124
years.
During the latter part of September the weather was remarkably hot, the
mean temperature for the five days from the 24th to 29th being 12.9 degrees
above the average.
The amount of rain measured during this period was 7.18 inches. July
was a wet month; in August and September the rainfall was deficient in
quantity.
The prevailing wind was W.S.W.
During this quarter, throughout England and Wales, diarrhoea and diphtheria
caused an excessive death-rate; but in the district of Friern Barnet these
complaints ware not prevalent. In August and September five cases of
typhoid fever occurred.
During the fourth quarter of the year the mean temperature of air was
42.4, degrees, which is 2 degrees below the average.
The amount of rain measured during this period was 8.215 inches; the
rainfall was deficient in quantity. The prevailing wind was S.W.W.
Fifteen deaths were registered. Two cases of Typhoid fever and twentythree
eases of Measles were notified. The month of December was mild and
damp, and favourable to the spread of infectious illness.
The weather generally during the year 1895 has been favourable to health
and agriculture, with the exception of the excessive cold during February. The
rainfall during the year was deficient. The amount measured was 20.73 inches;
the average for 45 years ending 1893 was 24.3 inches. For the last ten years
there has been a deficiency in the rainfall; the effects of this deficiency has been
the general lowering of the water in wells, so that Water Companies deriving
their supply from this source are compelled either to sink new wells or to
deepen the existing sources of supply.