PROCEEDINGS FOR 181J6 XXIII 



" That the sixth resohitiun of the International Conference of 1884 

 lias not yet been adopted and its adoption would be of advantage to 

 navigation and commerce in all future generations ; 



" That asti'onomers in all parts of the world have been consulted by 

 circulars sent out by the Canadian society and it has been learned that 

 a majority of astronomers heard fi'om in the following countries, are in 

 favour of unification being cai-ried into effect on the first day of January 

 in 1901, viz : in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, England, 

 France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, West Indies, Madagascar, Mexico, 

 Eoumania, Eussia, Scotland, ypain and the United States ; 



" That the shipping of these countries embraces eighty-five per cent 

 of the tonnage of the world's marine ; 



" That nautical almanacs are prepared several years in advance, and 

 as they would be somewhat affected by the adoption of the sixth resolu- 

 tion referred to, in order that it may take effect at the change of the 

 century, it will be necessary so to determine without much further delay ; 



" That thei*e is evidence to show that ship-masters of merchant ships, 

 both British and foreign, are almost unanimously in favour of the unifica- 

 tion of- time at sea ; 



" That Canada as a maritime country and an important division of 

 the British Empire is peculiarly interested in the reform, and from the 

 first has taken a prominent part in promoting the change ; 



" That for all these reasons the Eoyal Society of Canada respectfully 

 prays Your Excellency to take such steps as may seem best calculated to 

 secure the adoption by Her Majestj^'s Government of the sixth resolution 

 of the International Prime Mei'idian Conference of 1884, so that it may 

 take effect on the first day of the new century. 



" And your memorialists will ever pray. 



" A. E. C. Selwyn, President. 

 '• J. G. BouRiNOT, Secretary.'' 



It is proposed that the council of the society shall communicate 

 with the Boards of Trade of important cities and towns of Great Britain 

 and Ireland on this subject. ^ 



17. The Proposed Cabot Celebr.\tion. 



The society will be called upon at the present meeting to decide 

 finally whether it will assemble at Halifax in 1897 from the 20th to the 

 26th of June, and commemorate the landing of the famous navigator 

 John Cabot, on some point on the Atlantic coast of the North American 

 continent. The committee appointed last year to consider the subject 

 will report to the society through Dr. S. E. Dawson, who has given to 

 the famous voyages of 1497 and 1498 most patient and thorough study. 



1 See Appendix A to Proceedings. 



