118 

 On the U'fr IimikI the staircases lead to the Galleries and tbenee to the Dome. 



VIEW FROM THE DOME. 



To a stranger the view from the Dome must be one of the sights of Melbourne, as from 

 tiii.s jiosition a splendid i)auorama meets the view on all sides. 



Looking down into the gardens, the flower-beds, which are laid out in panels, have the 

 effect of a beautiful carj)et. 



From this height the visitor may form an accurate idea of tlie extent and general 

 arrangement of the city, whilst all the prineijial Imildings are distinguishable. The Parliament 

 Houses, Government Offices, St. Patrick's Catliedral, Government House, the spires of the 

 Independent and Scots t-hurches, the Town Hall, tlie new Post-office Tower, and the dome of 

 the Law Courts are the princijyal objects standing out from the ])lainer warehouses and other 

 buildings of the city. On a clear day, a view of the blue water of Hobson's Bay and the 

 shipping may be obtained. 



On the left liand may be seen the suburbs of Hawthorn, Kew, Richmond, South Yarra, 

 St. Kilda, ifcc, extending round to West Melbourne on the right hand, encomjiassing the city 

 ])roper, which lies directly in front. 



Ascending to another plattbriu, aiitint 2(i feet higher, an extensive view on all sides is 

 obtained. 



The Dome is — 



Latitude .. 

 Longitude 



37° 48' 29" south, 

 all. 39m. 52-38. east, or 

 144° .58' 073" east. 



The height of the Dome is 2Ut) feet ; to the top of the lantern is another 20 feet. 



After descending, a pleasant walk may be taken in front of the main building, where there 

 is a }ilentif'ul supply of garden seats jilaced in shady positions, and towards the western end of the 

 front terrace will be found 



THE SUN DIAL. 



The Dial is a semi-circular border, 6 feet wide and about 30 feet radius, with the hours of 

 the day indicated by figures made and arranged with fiowers of various colours, thus forming at 



the same time an ornamental flower beds 



The stile or gnomon points to the South 

 Pole, making an angle of 37° 51' with the 

 horizon. It is 30 feet 9 inches in length, 

 and is sujiported at the proper inclination 

 by a wooden structure or lattice work, 

 which, notwithstanding the unusually 

 great size, has a pleasing api)earauce. 



The time as indicated by the end of the 

 shadow cast by the stile on the border is 

 •• apparent solar time," which is always 

 lichind the Victorian zone or statute time 

 liy a variable timount ranging from 4 to 

 3."> minutes, according to the seasons, as 

 follows : — • 



On 1st January the Dial is about 23^ 

 minutes slow on zone time : then the error 

 increases gradually till 14th February, 



