INAUGURAL ADDRESS 
BY THE PRESIDENT, 
feed). HLEBRY ve MG oe PRS.) BAA oS: 
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BEGINNINGS AND 
GROWTH OF ASTRONOMY IN AUSTRALASIA. 
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Ir was suggested by a member of the Council of the Asssociation 
that I should take as the subject of my opening address to this 
Congress “A Brief History of the Beginnings and Growth of 
Astronomy in Australasia ;” first, because the history of the ad- 
vancement of any science would be appropriate to the occasion ; 
and, secondly, because I have now completed nearly half a 
century’s practical acquaintance with astronomical work in these 
lands, and should be able to speak with some knowledge. I have 
adopted the suggestion, and will now try and show how and 
when the beginning of astronomy in Australasian lands was 
made, and trace in chronological order the steps by which it has 
since grown to the present time, when we find established in 
several of the colonies State observatories lberally endowed by 
the colonial Governments, equipped with splendid modern instru- 
ments of great power, and directed by well-trained astronomers 
of experience and high attainments, who are thus enabled to 
undertake, and do undertake, Australasia’s share of the world’s 
work in contributing to the common stock of astronomical 
knowledge. 
For the purposes of this historical sketch, I assume Austral- 
asia to include Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and I 
shall frequently use the term ‘“‘ Astronomical Work” as I proceed 
to denote any kind of astronomical observations made for 
measurement, of the occurrence of astronomical phenomenon, or 
for any definite and useful purposes ; but simple star-gazing I do 
not regard as astronomical work. 
In this aspect the navigator, explorer, surveyor, or others who 
make astronomical observations for geographical, nautical, 
survey, or similar useful purposes, do astronomical work ; simi- 
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