METEOROLOGICAL WORK IN AUSTRALIA. 251 



Third order of climatological stations are sujoplied with a 

 thermometer screen, hygrometer, maximum and minimum self- 

 registering thermometers, wind compass, and rain gauge. In "A" 

 division tlie hygrometer is excepted, and in " B " division a rain 

 gauge only is employed. The time of observation at all stations of 

 the third order is 9 a.m., local time. 



Following the example of Mr. Ellery, Mr. Russell, and myself,. 

 Mr. Wragge commenced the system of publishing daily reports of 

 weather and rainfall, and a synoptic map similar to the map we 

 had for some time been issuing in Adelaide. He also co-operated 

 with us in publishing forecasts of the probable weather during 

 each ensuing twenty-four hours, with this addition, that he issued 

 forecasts not only for Queensland, but also for the other Australian 

 Colonies ; and, as these latter were made without regard to those 

 published at an earlier hour by the several local authorities, it has 

 occasionally happened that the two forecasts for the same colony 

 differed from each other. I will not venture an opinion as to the 

 desirableness of this independent action, beyond remarking that 

 supposing the judgment and qualifications of the other meteorolo- 

 gists to be equally good, their local experience, and the 

 possession of more detailed information in regard especially to 

 prognostics, clovids. Sec, gives them an advantage, and their 

 forecasts should be of equal value, and be more frequently justified. 

 Of Mr. VVraggtt's zeal and high qualifications for his special work 

 there can be no two opinions. I regret that his collected obser- 

 vations have not yet been published — from causes, it may be 

 presumed, beyond his control — in such detail as he himself would 

 wish, and which, in the interests of science, we all desire. This is 

 to be regretted, as his stations are so distributed as to represent the 

 climate of all parts of that large colony. There are now in 

 Queensland sixteen stations ot" the first order, thirty->ix of the 

 second order, forty-five of the third order "A," and 398 rain gauge 

 stations, third order " B." Included in the second order are two 

 priA^ate stations and five in the third order "A." 



Besides the stations in Queensland, Mr. Wragge tell- me he has 

 supplied instruments for two stations of the first order in New 

 Guinea, for one in New Caledonia, one in Fiji, and one in Norfolk 

 Island, and two others ot the second order in New Guinea 



In New Zealand, I learn from Sir James Hector, that from 1853 

 meteorological reports were included in the yearly volume of 

 statistics issued by the Registrar- General, but the observations 

 were of irregular character, and possessed little value nntiL 

 1859, when the work was taken up in a more systematic manner. 

 Observers were appointed at Wanganui, Auckland, Napier, New 

 Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, and Dunedin, each 

 being supplied with a set of standard instruments. The service 

 appears to have been placed, in the first instance, under the 

 supervision of Dr. Knight, the Auditor-General, bui in 1867 it 



