LXXVI THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



After observations extending over more than six months it has 

 been decided to locate the new telescope near Victoria, B. C, where 

 the climatic conditions especially as regards steadiness of seeing and 

 low diurnal range of temperature are exceptionally good. Fifty 

 acres of land on the summit of a hill of 732 ft. elevation conveniently 

 situated about eight miles north of Victoria have been purchased 

 and construction work on the necessary buildings will be commenced 

 early next year. 



Meridian Circle. 



During the early months of 1913 the telescope was out of commis- 

 sion for repairs and alterations. In addition to several minor changes, 

 the instrument was thoroughly balanced in every way, in preparation 

 for the undertaking of fundamental observations. During the re- 

 mainder of the year work was continued on the unfinished list of 

 latitude stars which has been under observation for several years. 

 Owing to continued bad weather, and to the fact that work was in- 

 terrupted by the repairs to the telescope, the number of observations, 

 exclusive of broken nights used only for clock correction, was some- 

 what under 1,000 in each co-ordinate. 



Time Service. 



The Time Service has been maintained as heretofore. Besides 

 the dropping of the time-ball on Parliament Hill, recording the time 

 on seismographs, sending out time-signals, &c, there are in operation 

 somewhat over 300 electrically driven dials in the Government 

 buildings in the city, which are operated by several secondary master- 

 clocks continuously synchronized from the Observatory. For the 

 synchronization of these a new method has been adopted, the chief 

 merit of which lies in the fact that interruptions to the synchronizing 

 line can under no circumstances cause the controlled clocks to stop. 

 An automatic comparison is made every minute between the primary 

 and the controlled clock, and during the next following minute the 

 rate of the latter is either increased or decreased as required, by 

 means of a small weight on the pendulum; the latitude allowed is 

 about 1/100 second. 



Field Observations. 



During the summer of 1913 three observers were engaged in 

 observations for latitude and longitude at various points. The 



