30 



Mr, Abbott rcmaikej that ho regretted the Society did not possess a re- 

 guhir series of tlio Adelaide Meteorological Registers, as he considered that 

 Mr. Todd's tables— if not the best— were equal to any in the Southern 

 Hemisphere. The prevailing gales and squalls in these colonies, having their 

 origin chiefly in the Southern Indian Ocean, and passing in sequence over 

 Adelaide and its vicinity before reaching us, rendered it desiralde to have a 

 register from that place, it being situate in the direct path of the storms. 



Dr. Hall observed that it was needless to remark on the importance of the 

 Aleteorological Observations, which through the courtesy of the Marine Board, 

 we have been supplied with from the various stations round our coast. To 

 make these complete, however, it would be most desirable that similar ob- 

 servations should be made at some central station in the island, such as 

 Oatlands or Campbell Town. 



Dr. Agnew explained, (as on a former occasion) that the importance of an 

 inland station was fully recognised by the Council, and that instruments had 

 been supplied to gentlemen at George Town and Campbell Town for the 

 purpose of making observations. These after having been -carried on for a 

 short period soon became irregular, and then ceased altogether. He was sure, 

 however, the Council would at an^' time do what they could to assist any com- 

 petent volunteer who would imdertake to continue these observations effec- 

 tively. 



Mr. Abbott suggested that possibly some of the masters of the govern- 

 ment schools might undertake the duty. If done regularly, very little time — 

 not more than fifteen minutes daily — was required. 



Professor JSTeumayer, from Melbourne, having been introduced by the Sec- 

 retary, was kind enough to favor the meeting with a short address. After 

 passing an eulogium on Mr. Abbott for his labors in the cause of meteoro- 

 logical science, he observed that he thought it would be interesting to many 

 of the Fellows of the Royal Society to have the modem instruments for the 

 observations on Terrestrial Magnetism described to them, in order that they 

 might be able to compare them with those formerly in use at the Magnetic 

 Observatory, kept up for io many years in this locality. The chief difference 

 between them was the size of the magnets, as the needles in the new apparatus 

 were only four inches long, while the bars of the old magnetometers had a 

 V eight of between twelve (12) and twenty (20) pounds. All other differences 

 between the two sets of instruments were of a less essential kind, and there 

 was only one instrument to which he should more particularly refer as quite 

 peculiar to the system of instruments employed by him ; this was the 

 Differential Inclinatorium of Professor Lament. He went on to describe 

 the instrument which is constructed of two soft iron bars, which becomes 

 magnetic by the induction of our earth. The instruments were shewn and 

 explained to the meeting in as simple a manner as the nature of the subject 

 would admit of. Professor Neumayer further mentioned it had been often 

 said that further observations on Terrestrial Magnetism were superfluous in 

 our part of the globe as the excellent set of obsei-vations taken during a 

 period of thirteen years at Hobart Town Iby Captain Kay and his staff had 

 furnished everything requisite for the advancement of magnetic science. 

 High as was his opinion of the work just alluded to, he had to protest against 

 such opinions, and any one conversant with the science in question would bear 

 him out in the statement that although many highly valuable discoveries had 

 been made of late in the phenomena connected with Terrestrial Magnetism, the 

 theory of it had not been materially advanced, and how then,' could^ it be 

 said that fAirther exertions would be superfluous. And again, the observations 

 made at Melbourne during the last seven years by himself must be considered 

 as joining to the Hobart Town series, furnishing as theyfldo a continuation, 

 and repetition of the investigations of a former period. His present visit was 

 to establish the connection between both series still^more closely, and also to 

 determine what changes hadj taken place in the values of the [Magnetic 

 Elements since the Hobart Town observations were concluded. In conclusion, 

 he would only mention that he had succeeded in making a series of observa- 

 tions at Melbourne, extending over a period of seven years— and that during 

 five years hourly registrations of Magnetic and Meteorological observations 

 had been recorded. Simvdtaneously with this extensive work he had also 

 carried out a Magnetic Survey of the colony of Victoria, and to give an idea of 

 the difficulties he had to overcome in completing this important work, he would 

 only mention that he had to travel 11,000 miles, from the sea-level to au 

 elevation of 7,300 feet, and through country where he had to cut his track, 

 and carry his instruments on horseback. His labors in this hemisphere were 

 to be published at home in several large volumes, which the learned Professor 



