Some essays on meteorological subjects that were published by Hunt in the 1890s, showed his designation as Second Meteorological Assistant, Sydney Observatory.

When Russell presented his celebrated paper on 'Moving Anti-cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere' to the Royal Meteorological Society, he appended a note stating: 'In the investigations which led up to the results detailed in this paper, I have been very ably assisted by Mr H. A. Hunt, who prepares the daily chart, and who has carried out many investigations to the successful discovery of weather laws here'. The weather charts used in Russell's paper were taken from the years 1887–1892. Wragge's daily weather charts appeared first in 1887.

Russell's paper was read before the Royal Meteorological Society in December 1892 and was received with a great deal of scepticism. The main criticism was that the charts were based on too few observations, while one noted Meteorologist said 'the allegations against Mr Russell's paper seemed to be that the charts were a grand illustration of the scientific use of the imagination, because they were founded on so few observations'.

In December 1892 the Honourable Ralph Abercromby who had been in Australia in 1885–86, gave to the Royal Society a sum of £100 to promote the study of Australian Meteorology by offering prizes for essays upon particular phases of weather, and in reward for special investigations, suggesting that the subject of the first essay should be 'The Southerly Burster'. The competition was open to all, and was advertised in Melbourne and Sydney and as well, in various kindred societies in Europe and America. The prize of £25 was awarded to Hunt for the best essay on this first subject, viz. 'The Southerly Burster'. It was published in 1894.

Bureau of Meteorology