REPORTS OF RESEARCH COMMITTEES. 
No. 1.—REPORT OF SEISMOLOGICAL COMMITTEE, 
Members: Mr. A. B. Biggs (Launceston), Mr. R. J. L. Ellery 
(Melbourne), Sir James Hector (Wellington), Mr. H. C, 
Russell (Sydney), Sir C. Todd (Adelaide), Mr. G. Hogben, 
Secretary (Timaru, N.Z.) 
Ir is to be regretted that up to the present the observations of 
earthquake phenomena in Australasia have been so fragmentary 
and of so varying a character. 
The Committee would emphasise the remarks of the President 
of Section A, in reference to this matter, and also would call special 
attention to a circular issued by the Seismological Committee of 
the British Association, from which the following is an extract :— 
“Tt has been established that the movements resulting from a 
large earthquake originating in any one portion of the globe can, 
with the aid of suitable instruments, be recorded at any other 
portion of the same ; therefore, the Seismological Investigation 
Committee of the British Association are desirous of your co-opera- 
tion in an endeavour to extend and systematize the observation 
of such disturbances, Similar instruments should be used at all 
stations. The one recommended by this Committee is simple to 
work, and furnishes results sufficiently accurate for the main 
objects in view. . . . . Its cost, including photographic 
material to last one year, packed for shipment, is about £50. 
‘ F In case an instrument be established at your observa- 
tor , we should ask that notes of disturbances having an earth- 
quake character be sent to us for analysis and comparison with 
the records from other stations. . . . . The first object we 
have in view is to determine the velocity with which motion is 
propagated round, or possibly throwgh, our earth. To attain this, 
all that we require from a given station are the times at which 
various phases of motion are recorded ; for which purpose, for 
the present at least, we consider an instrument, recording a 
single component of horizontal motion to be sufficient. Other 
results which may be obtained from the proposed observations 
are numerous. 
