86 PRACTICAL ASTRONOMY IN TASMANIA. 



which is responsible for helping the various States back to 

 their original efficiency in these matters. 



I leave to others the task of defending the utility of 

 meteorological observations, and will immediately proceed 

 to my more special theme ; but, before dismissing meteor- 

 ology, I would like to remind any who may hear or read this 

 jDajDer that continuity in meteorological records is essential 

 for their full utility, and it is pennywise and pound foolish 

 to establish such records for a time, then discontinue them, 

 and later undertake them once more. 



The meteorological service in this State, as in many 

 other parts of the world, is performed by the same staff as 

 the astronomical service, and it is of this last I wish to speak 

 in full. 



I shall not hesitate to repeat what I have already said 

 to the Society two months ago, partly because it refers to a 

 matter that I think the public should, for its own benefit, 

 take seriously to heart, and partly in order to make the pre- 

 sent paper complete 



I propose to consider our subject under the following 

 heads : — 



(1) Practical astronomy of Tasmania in the past. 



(2) The uses and desirabilties of practical astronomy in 



such a community as ours. 



(3) The present. 



(4) Proposals as to the future. 



I. 



PjiACTicAL Astronomy of Tasmania in the Past. 



With regard to the past I propose to say very little, 

 though it would be interesting if somebody could be induced 

 to look thoroughly through the proceedings of this Society 

 and elsewhere to make a proper history of the subject. 



Mr. Kingsmill two months ago gave you some account 

 of the official work for the Government performed in the 

 past. I would like to call attention to the other practical 

 astronomical work that has been done here. 



We have had two enthusiastic astronomers in our 

 midst, who performed their work merely for the love of it, 

 true amateurs, in the highest sense of the word — Mr. Abbott 

 (died 1883) and Mr. Biggs (died 1901). Each of 

 these had a private observatory, furnished with very fair 

 instruments, and each did useful work. I am sorry to say 

 that, as far as I know, there is no such amateur, with the 

 necessary instruments in the State to-day. 



