Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-10-13
First Snow in Melbonrne, Australia.

On Wednesday, July 26. spectacle
Of decidedly novel and, as far as is
officially known, unprecedented charac-
ter was observed by the citizens of Mel
bourne and suburbs-viz.: q genuine
snowfall. II is true that n number OF
colonists aver that snow fell on more
than one occasion in Melbourne during
the first decade of Victorian history, but
our meteorological records are silent on
the point; and Mr.. Ellery, the Govern
ment Astronomer, whose recollection
extends back TO 1851. declares that the
snowfall was the first in his Victorian
experience. Altogether, Wednesday,
July 26, 1882, was a most exceptional
day in several respects. Its average
temperature was the lowest on record,
the thermometer never having risen
above forty degrees, while for the
greater part of the day it was as low as
thirty-nine degrees. A lower tempera-
ture than tho latter has been registered
ut the Observatory, but only for very
brief period.
The popularity about the day con-
sisted in the uniformly low temperature
that prevailed in Australia. 1t had been
raining slightly during the previous
night, and Wednesday morning opened
with evident signs OF continuance Of
similar weather. But few in Melbourne
were prepared for what took place
shortly after eight o'clock, when min
| gled snow and rain commenced to de-
scend, reviving old-world memories, and
occasioning general expressions of SUR
prise. To young Australians the spec
tacle of falling snow-hakes filling the
air was indeed n new experience, and
they were enabled to compare the ac-
! tual reality with the conceptions formed
by reading the descriptions of similar
scenes on the other side of the equator.
At about half-past eight n heavier
fall of snow was observed, the flakes
being thicker, and in some places tenn
porarily whitening pretty large area.
| The fall lasted for about half an hour,
| during which time large numbers of
people in all parts of the city and SUBJ
urbs watched the unusual sight with
keen and evident Interest. The fall was
| by no means confined to the vicinity
of the Victorian Capital, for it extended
over the whole Southern portion of Aus
tralia, and also embraced the elevated
districts of this colony, where 'heavy
snow was reported from Mount Vic
toria, Carcoar. Walcha, Bendameer,
Orange, Armidale and Kiandra. At the
last mentioned township, which is situ-
ated near the head waters of the Snowy
River, the ground was covered with
twenty inches of snow.
In Victoria the snowfall at Mount
Macedon was continuous, and Mount
Buninyong capped with three feet of
snow, the roofs of the houses in this ell
svated locality being likewise covered:
Ice three inches thick was also reported
from Mount Buninyong. The fall at
Lancefeld lasted for two hours, and at
Beaufort tho ground was covered TO q
depth of more than two inches. The
mountains surrounding Ararat were
wrapped in fleecy mantle, and al
Smythesdale snow-balling was the pop
lar amusement during the greater por-
lion of the day. On Mount Cole two
teet of snow was lying, and the saw
mills were compelled to suspend work
n consequence. The ranges in the
neighborhood of Talbot and Stawell were
likewise snow-clad during part of the
lay.-Meibourne argus.