The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-10-26
First Snow in Melbourne, Australia.

On Wednesday, July 26, q spectacle
of a decidedly novel and, as far ms is
officially known, unprecedented charac-
ter was observed by the citizens of Mel
bourne and suburbs-viz.: a genuine
snowfall. 1t is true that 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
meni Astronomer, whose recollection
etends back to 1851, declares that the
snowfall was the first in his Victorian
experience. Altogether Wednesday,
July 26, 1882, was most exceptional
day in several respects. Its average
temperature was the lowest on reco, d,
the thermometer never having r.sen
above forty degrees, while for the
greater part OF the day it WAS as low as
thirtyn ne degrees. A lower tempera-
t'rre than the latter has been registered
at the OBJ >ervatory, but only for q 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 previou ;
night, and " cdnesday morning opened
milar weather But few in Melbourne
wee prepared for what took place
shortly after eight o'clock, when min
glcd snow and rain commenced to de-
scend. reviving old-world memories. and
OF tcasioning general express ons of sur
PRISE. To young Australians the spec
tacle of falling snow-hakes filling the
air was indeci a new experience, and
they were enabled to compare the &C.
,ual reality with the conceptions formed
by reading the descriptions of SINH ar
scenes OH the other side of the uator.
At about hali-past eight a heavier
fall Of snow was observed, the fakes
being tn cker, and in some places tenn.
Lorarlly whitening pretty large area
The fall lasted Tor about half an hour.
during which time large numbers of
people in all parts OF the city and sub
urbs watched the unusual sight with
keen and evident interest. The fall was
by no means confined to the vicinity
rf the Ficto ian Capital, for it extended
over the whole Southern portion of Aus
tm'ia, and also embraced the elevated
dstricts of this colony, where "heavy
snow was reported from Mount Vic
toria, Carcoar. Walcha, Bcndameer,
Orange, Arm dale and Kiandra. At the
last mentioned township, which is stu
ated near the head waters of the Snowy
River, the ground was covered with
twenty inches of snow.
In Victoria the snowfall ut Mount
Macedon was continuous, and Mount
Buninyong capped with three feet of
snow, the roofs of tho houses in this ell
evated locality being likewise covered.
Ice three in hes 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 i'll feecy mantle. and at
Smythesdale snow balling was the pop
lar amusement during the greater por-
ton of the day. On Mount Cole two
feet of snow was lying, and the saw
mills were compelled to suspend work
in consequence. The ranges in the
neighborhood of Talbot and Stawell were
likewise snow-clad during a part of the
day. --Mei6ou17ae 14r0us.