METEOROLOGICAL WORK IX AUSTRALIA. 2o3^ 



him, see storms a thousand or more miles distant, and tell people 

 with a considerable amount of confidence when they niifjht be 

 expected and what would be their force. This is the great func- 

 tion of modern meteorology. Hnt, like everything- else, it too'ic 

 time. It required money from the State, which was not always 

 readily forthcoming ; it required, moreover, a complete and exten- 

 sive organisation of skilled observers, all working on the same 

 lines and with the same objects in view. It had also to win the 

 confidence of a sceptical public, which still placed confidence in 

 quack weather prophets, who. like Moore and Saxby, could fell 

 them what the weather would be all the year through, according 

 to the phases of the moon. Confidence, we are told, is a plant of 

 slow growth. So it is, and so it should be if progress is to be 

 made on a sound, solid, lasting basis. 



So long ago as 1854 Admiral Fitzroy advised the Home Govern- 

 ment to establish a meteorological office, with a view to the issue 

 of weather forecasts and storm warnings to all the princijial ports 

 of the kingdom. This sugiicstion was ultimately adopted, and 

 a Meteorological Department, under the Board of Trade. Avas 

 organised, over which Admiral Fitzroy presided until his death, and 

 storm warnings were issued as proposed. Leverrier, at Paris, also 

 commenced the publication of daily weather bulletins. 



On the death of Admiral Fitzroy the Government, invoked the 

 aid of the Royal Society, which resulted in the appointment of a 

 standing committee to superintend the meteorological work under- 

 taken by the Board of Trade. 



The functions of the Committee were divided into three great 

 branches : — 



I. Ocean Meteorology. — 'ihc object of this branch is to deduce 

 the meteorology of all parts of the ocean from observa- 

 tions made by ships. The surface of the ocean is con- 

 ventionally portioned off by lines of latitude and longi- 

 tude into a vast number of sections, and the meteorology 

 of each section is discussed as though it were an inde- 

 pendent district. The issue of instruments to ships is 

 also undertaken by this branch. 



II, Telegraphic Weather Information. — This branch of the 

 functions of the Committee comes most prominently 

 before the public, but it must not therefore be assumed 

 that it is the most useful or imjjortant part of their 

 work. 



III. Land Meteoroloyy of the British Isles. — The new feature 

 of this branch consists in the establishment of seven land 

 observatories, provided with self-recording instruments. 

 Its object is twofold : first, to give accurate data for a 

 discussion of the law of storms and weather changes ; 

 and, secondly, to ascertain meteorological constants,. 



