XXVIII ROYAF. SOCIETY OF CANADA 



their co-operation in moving the home Government to adopt the change 

 so that it might take efl«ct on the first day of the new century. 



The better to accomplish the desired end the council sent with each 

 communication various documents bearing upon the subject in pamphlet 

 form, viz. : 



1. Memorandum of the Eoyal Society of Canada of October 14th, 

 1896. 



2. Memorial from the Eoyal Society of Canada to His Excellency 

 the Governor-General, April 27th, 1896. 



3. Communication from Canadian Institute, Toronto, April 9th, 

 1896. 



4. Second report of the Joint Committee of the Canadian Institute 

 and the Astronomical Society of Toronto, May 10th, 1894. 



5. Third report of the Joint Committee, etc., Sept. 21st, 1895. 



6. Oijinions of British Shipmasters and others on the proposed 

 reform . 



7. Letter to the Governor-General's Secretary on the same subject, 

 Toronto, April 28rd, 1896. 



8. Summary of Shipmasters heard from on the Unification of Time 

 at Sea up to July 25th, 1896. 



Man}^ associations in the United Kingdom responded to the invita- 

 tion of the council. The Association of Lloyd's, the most perfect organi- 

 zation known in connection with shipping and commerce, was one of the 

 first to take definite action in favour of the movement. The council of 

 the Royal Colonial Institute for themselves and on behalf of its four 

 thousand members, forwarded to the Prime Minister a memorial urging 

 on the Government the advisability of making the desired change. The 

 Chambers of Commerce at London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Leith, and 

 other great shipping ports, acted similarly. The Eoyal Societv of 

 London appointed an influential committee to consider the best course to 

 follow in meeting the wishes of this society. 



Last month information was received through the Secretary of 

 State for the Colonies, that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty 

 repeated their readiness to make the change and give direction for the 

 Nautical Almanac to be so altered to give eftect to it. provided certain 

 other powers agreed to do the same. They stated, however, among 

 other things, that having invited foreign governments to act with them, 

 the United States of America had categorically declined the invitation of 

 Her Majesty's Government. The Lords of the Admiralty decided in 

 consequence to proceed no further in the matter. It was further stated 

 that as the Nautical Almanac for 1901 is now in an advanced state of 



