110 Land Magnetic Observations, 1911-13 



1911.^ July to August: magnetometer No. 9; magnetometer No. 6; Barrow dip circle 

 No. 41 (loaned by courtesy of the Director of the Melbourne Observatory) ; chronometers 

 Nos. 252, 253, and 258; watches Nos. 52, 107, 137, and 400; and accessories. September 

 to December: magnetometer No. 17; dip circle No. 178; chronometers Nos. 252 and 258; 

 watches Nos. 107 and 137. Mr. Webb's equipment, August 29 to October 25, consisted 

 of magnetometer No. 9, dip circle No. 41, chronometer Kittel No. 252, watches Nos. 52 and 

 400, and accessories. 



1912. Magnetometer No. 17; dip circle No. 172; pocket chronometer No. 258; 

 watches Nos. 107, 137, and 400. From September 27 to the end of year also chronometer 

 No. 251. 



1913. Until September 13: magnetometer No. 17; dip circle No. 172; chronometer 

 No. 258; watches Nos. 107, 137, and 400; and accessories. From September 29 to Decem- 

 ber 1 : magnetometer No. 6; Barrow dip circle No. 41, of the Melbourne Observatory; chro- 

 nometer No. 251; watch No. 137. For balance of the year: universal magnetometer No. 

 14; chronometers Nos. 251 and 253; and accessories. 



Comparisons of the instruments used have been made from time to time, both in the 

 field and at the principal base-station, Melbourne. Also as occasions presented, special 

 declination readings, in addition to the usual magnetic observations, were made at close 

 intervals, and for as long periods as circumstances permitted. For the control of the 

 secular changes, repeat stations have been established which were reoccupied whenever 

 possible. 



The work during 1911 was in Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales and 

 Tasmania. The Department in fulfillment of its promised aid to the Australasian Antarctic 

 Expedition, employed Mr. E. N. Webb, of Christchurch, New Zealand, as temporary 

 observer, from July to November 1, in order that he might secure under me the desired 

 training in magnetic work before joining the expedition. Later Mr. A. L. Kennedy, who 

 also was to be one of the observers of the expedition, was given the necessary instruction. 

 Both observers were especially trained in the use of the two complete outfits, loaned the 

 expedition by the Department, for magnetic-survey work. It was understood that the 

 requisite training in the magnetic-observatory work would be received by them at the 

 Melbourne Observatory. The Department's cooperation was to cover only the needs of 

 the field work of the expedition. The instruments used were carefully intercompared at 

 Hobart, Tasmania, in December 1911, and again in Melbourne in 1913 upon the return of 

 Messrs. Webb and Kennedy from the Antarctic. 



The 1912 operations were in Western Australia, the remarkable local disturbance at 

 Mount Magnet receiving some attention; observations were secured at 24 stations. The 

 transcontinental trip, from south to north Adelaide to Port Darwin was next organized 

 (see synopsis below). Upon completion of the work at Port Darwin, I sailed on October 4 

 for Melbourne, observing en route at Thursday Island, making here special magnetic obser- 

 vations, in accordance with the Director's instructions, on October 10, 1912, on which date 

 occurred a solar eclipse. I then continued the work, with Mr. Cox's assistance, in north 

 Queensland. Eleven stations were estabUshed by the early part of December, when the 

 party proceeded to Melbourne. During the remainder of December, 5 stations were 

 occupied in the southwestern portion of Victoria. 



In 1913, the work up to the end of June was done in Victoria and in New South Wales. 

 In the course of this work there were reoccupied the British Admiralty station at Garden 

 Island, Sydney, and the Red Hill branch station of the Sydney Observatory, where an 

 intercomparison with the observatory magnetometer was made. In April, in company 

 with Mr. E. N. Webb, of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, an intercomparison was 

 obtained between the observer's outfit and magnetometer No. 6 and Lloyd-Creak dip circle 

 No. 169 returned by the expedition. A satisfactory distribution of stations in New South 

 Wales was obtained ; a number of less easily accessible stations in the very sparsely occupied 

 western portion being reached by automobile. 



