13.— MAGNETIC OBSERVATORIES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 

 By Professor J. C. Beaitie, D.Sc, F.R.S.E. 



1. Distribution of Magnetic Observatories throughout the world. 



2. History of Cape Magnetic Observatory and the attempts to 

 revive it. 



3. Purposes served by a Magnetic Observatory. 



4. Suggested scheme for Permanent Magnetic Observatories in 

 South Africa. 



I. — Distribution of ■Magnetic Observatories Throughout 



THE World. 



There are at the present day between forty and fifty thoroughly 

 equipped, permanent magnetic observatories in the world. Of these 

 all but five are in the Northern Hemisphere. These five are Batavia 

 in the Eastern Archipelago, Mauritius, Melbourne in Australia, 

 Christchurch in New Zealand, and Cordova in South America. In 

 Melbourne, Christchurch, and Mauritius the capital sum required for 

 building and equipment and the current expenses, are provided by the 

 respective local Governments. On the African Mainland itself the only 

 observatory is Dar-es-Salaam in German East Africa, which is at 

 present in course of erection. There are four in Great Britain, four in 

 France, and four more under construction. Japan has six such 

 observatories, and no European country except Turkey, Servia, Bul- 

 garia, and Greece is without its magnetic observatory. 



2. — ^History of Cape Magnetic Observatory and the 

 Attempts to Revive It. 



A permanent magnetic observatory was established at the Royal 

 Observatory at the Cape in 1841. It continued in existence till 1853, 

 when the building was burnt down, and many of the records lost. 

 Since then, despite manv attempts to resuscitate it, no fixed magnetic 

 station has been in being. The British Association has several times 

 moved in the matter. In its report of 1887 a committee appointed by 

 the Association for the purpose of considering the best means of 

 comparing and reducing magnetic observations reported " that the 

 establishment of regular magnetic observatories at the Cape of Good 

 Hope and in South America would materially contribute to our 

 knowledge of earth magnetism." (British Association Report, 1887, 

 p. 320). The same resolution was adopted in 1889 (B.A. Report, 

 1889, p. 50), and again in 1890 (B.A. Report, 1890, p. 173). 



In 1 89 1 the same committee reported that they had hopes that 

 their recommendation of the establishment of a magnetic observatory 

 was about to be carried out under the direction of Her Majesty's 

 Astronomer at the Cape, and at the expense of the Admiralty (B.A. 

 Report, 189T, p. 1 50V The negotiations fell through, however. 



After this date the matter was allowed to rest for some time. It 

 was again brought up in 1898 bv the International Meteorological 

 Conference (B.A. Report, 1898, p. 762). By this time electric 



