Abstract
OBSERVATIONS of rainfall were begun in the colony about forty-five years ago, but until 1876 no general system of registration was in force; and, except in the case of the Royal Observatory and a few other stations, no continuous records were available. In 1876, however, Mr. John G. Gamble, M.A., M.Inst.C.E., the Hydraulic Engineer to the Colony, induced the Government to grant a sum of 100l., for the purpose of establishing rain-gauges throughout the country. This grant has been continued yearly since then, with the result that, although the sum is quite inadequate for the speedy erection of the number required, there are now 250 gauges from which monthly returns are obtained. A gauge is placed at every seat of magistracy, and private persons are also supplied with gauges free of charge on condition that they observe continuously for five years, and forward monthly returns to the Meteorological Commission at Cape Town. All the services rendered by the observers are gratuitous. The monthly returns are tabulated and printed together with other meteorological observations in a report by the Meteorological Commission, which is presented annually to the Colonial Legislature.
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STEWART, T. The Rainfall of the Cape Colony . Nature 34, 573–574 (1886). https://doi.org/10.1038/034573a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/034573a0