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British Rainfall 1867 page 11
RAINFALL IN NORTH DERBYSHIRE.
IN one respect, I have to report addition to our knowledge
of the rainfall of this district; but the most interesting
and important portion is as neglected now as it has been for
the last twenty years.
The flatter country round Derby is pretty well represented
by gauges at Derby, Spondon, West Hallam, and Morley, also
at Belper and Chesterfield. We welcome this year the
addition of Willersley and Matlock, which appear to have
only about 5 in. more then Derby, and much the same as
Chesterfield, while Buxton has apparently a mean fall of
about 62 inches.
The information concerning the Peak district remains
stationary, although, perhaps, modern modes of treatment may
induce the observations to tell us more than they did when
they were first made. From the data given in the "Memoirs
of the Literary and Philosophical Society of
Manchester," it appears that the mean fall on the flank
of Kinder Scout, at 1,600 ft. above the sea, is nearly, if
not quite, 70 in. This, at 50 miles inland, and more than
100 miles from the sea in the S.W., is a most unusual
result, and one surely well worthy of scrutiny.
The Peak is close to Manchester, was, I believe, thought of
as a source of water supply for Manchester, and what little
we know of its rainfall we owe to Manchester men.
May I remit to the members of the Literary and Philosophical
Society of Manchester the desirability of their
investigating the rainfall of the district. It will not be
troublesome, need not cost £50 altogether; and, lastly, the
results would form a worthy sequel to the papers on rain by
Dr. Dalton and others, which are to be found in their
valuable "Memoirs." I leave the matter in their hands.
ON THE RAINFALL OF CENTRAL AND NORTH WALES.
REFERENCE to the list of stations given in the "Report of
the British Assocation for 1865," will show that, prior
to 1860 there had, in the tract represented in the
accompanying map (see frontispiece), only been
observations made in four places - viz. Lampeter five years,
Rhayader two years, and Llandudno and Gwynnsany one year. In
1862, there were only five returns; in 1863, six; in 1864,
there were twelve; in 1865, thirty-five, nineteen being
supplied by Captain Mathew, of Wern. In 1866, there were
forty; and this year there are about the same number, but
more widely distributed.
The great increase due to Captain Mathew's exertions is thus
rendered evident; and the results obtained have, we are
sure, been such as, to some extent, to compensate him for
the trouble and expense of
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