day, and sleighing is pretty good again. In Montreal wheeled vehicles again made their appearance, while those persons who did not like to cast aside their winter vehicles had a hard time of it in trying to drive along the bare streets of the city. On the last day of February a slight fall of snow occurred at Montreal and Quebec, and during the night the thermometer descended to zero, while an abrubt rise of the barometer was noticed. The precipitation for February far exceeded that of any previous month of the year. Rain fell on three days; snow fell on 12 days; rain or snow fell on 13 days. Total rainfall for month, 0.28 inches; total snowfall, 10.2 inches-equal to 1.00 inch water. Total precipitation in inches of water was 1.28. RECORD AT MONTREAL. I. Overcast and windy; Easterly wind. Snow in 4. Mild, spring-like day; complete thaw; little snow left.. 5. Misty morning; mild, spring-like day.. 6. Complete thaw; bright and warm.. 7. Warm, spring weather. River ice dangerous; wheeled vehicles out... 8. Warm, sultry day; cold, wintry night with hard frost 9. High wind; fair; snow in Toronto and other places West.. IO. Driving snow storm most of day; first fall of month II. Brilliant and fairly cold; trains blocaded yesterday at 6° 0 12. Over-cast and snowing; ice only now firm at Three 13. 14. 15. Fair to cloudy and thawing hard in sun; snow going Very brilliant day; fairly cold... Brilliant morning; white hoar frost ; circle round moon 16. Mist over whole city; bright day; snowing all day at Quebec.... 17. 18. 19. Snowing all forenoon; very mild. Brilliant and cold, with keen northerly wind; cold weather West.... Hazy, cold morning; keen wind, 20. Cloudy, and snowing most of day.. 21. Mild, slushy day, clouding towards evening.. 22. Snowing during night; sleet and crust on snow this 23. morning raining.. Sleet and snow all night; snowing this forenoon. 24. Great slush in city; sleighing fair; complete break up 25. Cold Northwest wind; no thaw; cloudy. Snow in London, Ont.... 26. Fair to cloudy; cold Northeast wind. 27. Brilliant, warm day; carts and carriages out again. Windy night.... 28. Over-cast and windy; snowing at Montreal and Quebec; sudden descent of thermometer to zero during night and abrubt rise of barometer..... MARCH. In reviewing the month of March it perhaps will not be inexpedient to glance hastily over the leading characteristics of this month before giving the usual telegrams and jottings from different points. March of 1878 was distinguished from the previous months of that year by having the only really heavy snow-fall of the winter, and also by the arrival in the Port of Montreal of the first steamboat of the season. The month of March opened with a bright cold day, with hard frost, and just enough snow to make pretty good sleighing. This seasonable weather was quickly followed by a disagreeable mixture of sleet and rain, which in turn was again frozen by a decidedly cold spell, which, together with a slight snow storm, again put the roads into fair leighing condition. The weather then became very mild, and on the 7th rain descended in torrents, deluging the streets and very quickly changing into slush the little snow and ice that remained. The ice on the river also showed a tendency to break up; great yawning cracks and fisures running in all directions over the ice, and, in many places, large spaces of clear water were perceptible. Many persons who attempted to cross on the river roads met with narrow escapes from drowning by breaking through the thin ice, into the water beneath. Up to this date, the 11th, there had only been one or two short visits of the proverbial March winds, and in their place mild and spring-like weather generally prevailed. A Cheyenne despatch stated that that place was visited by a most destructive storm, exceeding in violence and duration any previous one. A fierce wind-ranging in velocity from fifty to sixty-four miles per hour-drifted the snow in some places ten to fifteen feet high in the city. Trains on the different lines were completely snowed up, causing great loss to stock, &c. Under same date, we hear that a disastrous storm prevailed at Sidney and vicinity; several large herds of cattle were driven by the storm into the Platte River and frozen. On the 13th, reports were received from Quebec, Halifax and several other points, of a fierce snow-storm, which was ushered in by a regular hurricane, and in some places succeeded by a heavy rain storm. This storm was experienced as far South as Wheeling, Va., when the heaviest storm ever experienced in West Virginia passed over Jefferson County. Hailstones larger than eggs fell for hours, unroofing houses, breaking glass and killing cattle, hogs and sheep. The heavy rain which followed washed out growing wheat, inflicting heavy loss, and damage was done to the amount of from $75,000 to $100,000. Minnesota was also visited by a severe rain storm, causing the rivers to rise some ten feet, overflowing the banks and flooding whole tracks of country. In St. Paul, Mo., the stage road was covered with snow in some places to the depth of 11 feet. St. Patrick's Day, 17th March, in Montreal, opened with a slight shower of rain. This, however, soon ceased, and by the afternoon the weather was very fine. At Halifax, however, a driving snow-storm prevailed. This was followed the next day by a heavy rain-storm, which quickly transformed the beautiful white snow into that disagreeable mixture-slush. The ice on the rivers was at this time in a rather precarious condition, and in many places ferries were running. At Belleville, Ont., the ferry steamer had been making regular trips ever since the 11th. On the 18th, two steamers left Collingwood, the Georgian Bay being quite free of ice. Navigation was open on Lake Superior and the Red River. The River St. Lawrence was perfectly free from Longueuil down to Boucherville. At the latter place, however, the ice was still firm, and farmers were crossing. On the 20th street cars first made their appearance in Montreal, but after two or three days successful running, during which time people were congratulating each other on the disappearance of the winter mantle, the snow-storm-predicted some time before by Mr. Vennor-made its appearance. All day Sunday, 24th March, soft white flakes of snow swiftly descended to the earth, and long before the appointed time at which all good citizens turn out upon the streets to made their way to their different churches, a respectable layer of snow had fallen, as if to cover the large heaps of mud which had been scraped together preparatory to being carted away. The fall was a heavy one. Several trains were reported late owing to the snow drifts, and hundreds of men and horses that had been working at the Lachine Canal, were thrown out of employment, as the works had to be stopped. This, the heaviest storm of the year, seems to have prevailed all over Canada. From Quebec, the Lower Provinces, Eastern Townships, and different points in Ontario, the same report was recieved-heavy snow-storm, roads almost impassable. On the same day our friends across the ocean in England, Ireland and Scotland were visited by a fierce hurricane which swept across the country, and was succeeded by a violent storm of snow and hail, which quickly transformed the aspect of the country from genial spring to a wild and severe winter. The damage done to the newly budding crops by the severe frost was very great The snow storm there was accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning. But to cane back to our own Dominion On the 26th and 27th in Quebec, there was a slight snowstorm, which, although not heavy, was sufficiently so to make the roads in good sleighing condition During the few days previously, the ice had been rapidly disappearing from the river at Montreal, and on Friday, 29th March, the Longueuil ferry Montarville" steamed up into the harbor from her winter quarters at Boucherville. This is the earliest arrival on record since the year 1854, the nearest to it being April 4th, 1859. By a telegram dated 30th March, received from St John, N.B., we are informed that "during the last 48 hours a snow, hail and rain storm prevailed, and was the most severe storm of the season. Over a foot of snow fell on the level, and in many places the snow drifted to a depth of six and seven feet. In Montreal March took its departure in a quiet manner. The last day was rather cloudy and looked very much as if a snow-storm was brewing. A slight storm did ensue, but was not of sufficient duration to add materially to the condition of the streets. During the month of March rain fell on eight days, snow fell on 14 days, rain or snow fell on 18 days. The total rain-fall amounted to 0.58 inches; total snow-fall 19.4 inches-equal to 1.83 inches water. Total precipitation of water in inches was 2.41. I. 2. RECORD AT MONTREAL. Brilliant cold day; hard frost; clear night. 3. Light snow early morning; sleet and rain rest of day. 4. Snow early morning; colder with snow, making fair sleighing. 5. Fair to cloudy; milder. 6. Mild and cloudy. 7. Heavy rain early morning; ice breaking up; 'weather raw and gloomy. 8. Bright, warm and summer-like day-no March blow yet. 9. Brilliant spring-like day; roads bare and river opening. 10. Heavily overcast and spitting rain; colder towards night; hazy circle round moon. II. 12. Much colder weather; great snowstorm at Cheyenne (west); east wind. Hard frost; cloudy day; no winds yet this month; robins abundant. 13. Rain and sleet turning to heavy snow; a fair amount of snow fell. 14. Some sleighs out again; mild and slushy; snov Halifax and Quebec yesterday. 15. Stiff frost; brilliant day; ice breaking up everywhere; spring birds. 16. Overcast with light snow; fair afternoon and evening. 17. St. Patrick's day; heavy cloud morning with rain; fair day; windy night. 18. Snow storm yesterday and this morning Halifax ; fair at Montreal. 19. Dark and snowing morning; rain at 8 p. m. and windy; snow Quebec. 20. Bright, cold and windy; street cars commenced running Montreal. 21. Bright, cold and windy; very dusty. 22. Bright, cold and windy; very dusty; clouds increasing. 23. Light snow and rain; windy and cold towards night. 24. HEAVY SNOW STORM lasting all day; night very blustery; sleighs all out again. 25. 26. Snowing, blowing and drifting; cleared towards noon; high wind. Fair to cloudy; very mild and snow going fast; fair sleighing. 27. Light snow fall; snowing at Quebec and good sleighing. 28. Rain turning to snow; snow Ottawa; great snow storm England. 29. Brilliant day with cold wind; FIRST STEAMBOAT ARRIVED at MONTREAL. 30. Brilliant day; warm in sun; severe snow storm at St. John, N.B. Fair to cloudy; windy; light snow flurry. 31. APRIL. April 1878, was a most remarkably advanced month-it was even .more advanced than the April of 1877, and with its genial sunshine and warmth seemed more like May than the month of April. Swallows and other migratory birds arrived some ten days sooner than usual, which, according to the lore of the weather-wise people, was a sure sign of returning spring. From every quarter of the Dominion intelligence is received of signs of early spring. A Halifax telegram of the 9th says:"After about ten days of continual wet weather, the su shone brightly to-day, and everything betokens an early spring." Heavy rains and cloudy weather seem to have generally prevailed east of Montreal, while on the 2nd inst. New Brunswick was visited by a snow-storm. On the 5th Montreal and Quebec, particularly Quebec, received a sharp reminder of winter's presence in the shape of a fierce snow-storm. The river was very open, and ferry boats were running their usual trips; on the 4th the "Chambley" left this port with a full complement of passengers and freight; the steamer "Sorel also made regular trips between Beloeil and Sorel. Under date of Apri! 10th, intelligence was received from Pembroke that as the Lake was clear of ice, the Forwarding Co.'s boats were to commence their regular trips in a few days. After several days of warm, summer-like weather, the river ice which had been blocking the channel, gave way about mid-night on the 15th, and commenced slowly to leave the harbor, crushing and grinding for hours, the noise being heard for some distance on the still night air. The Ottawa boats commenced running on the 18th, one day earlier than last year. The weather at this time was still warm, although the evenings were generally rather cold and frosty. The steamer "Montreal" arrived at Quebec from Montreal on the 21st, and was the first boat arriving there that season. On the 20th we were visited by a heavy shower of rain accompanied by thunder. On the 22nd and 23rd, intelligence was received from Toronto, London, Hamilton and several other Western points, of a severe rain and thunder storm, and later on, the 27th, heavy rains descended into the Ottawa Valley. Allan's steamship Sarmatian," the first of the season, arrived in the Montreal Harbor on the 30th. Owing to the general dampness of the month, colds, and the many diseases attending colds, were prevalent. Many children attending school suffered from throat diseases. 66 THE RECORD AT MONTREAL. A remarkably advanced season. I. Cloudy, raw and showery. Ice still firm between Montreal and Quebec. 2. Alternately cloudy and bright. Heavy rains to eastward; snow 3. in New Brunswick. Warm summer-like day; ice gone at Three Rivers; windy night. 4. Alternately cloudy and bright; strong northerly winds; evening cold, showery and blustry. Publishers' Agents, New York, |