168 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION A. 
And it is, moreover, from the steady increase of this knowledge 
that we may hope to gain ground towards the solution of some of 
the riddles mentioned above. 
It is, in fact, recognised that the main purpose to which future 
efforts should be directed is to expand and co-ordinate magnetic 
work, the world over, for obtaining a more correct and complete 
knowledge of the distribution of terrestrial magnetism and of its 
variation. Observe that we require to investigate certain physical 
conditions of our planet in their total effect—that is, regarding 
the earth as a whole ; and this object can only be accomplished 
by a complete magnetic service, carried on under uniform methods 
for a continued period, forming a great net of: magnetic observa- 
tories well distributed all over the terrestrial sphere. 
But the realisation of these ideal conditions is, at least partly, 
prevented by insuperable difficulties. 
The seas, the deserts, and all inaccessible parts of the earth 
would always cause large gaps in the plan of magnetic evidence. 
The available opportunities, however, are by no means taken 
full advantage of. The permanent magnetic observatories of the 
world are, all but three, located in the Northern Hemisphere, and 
by far the greater part of these are clustered in Europe. The 
southernmost magnetic station is that at Melbourne, and the 
great expanse between us and the Antarctic Pole gives no evidence 
of its present magnetic conditions. Yet the possibilities of making 
satisfactory progress rest with us. 
Dr. Adolf Schmidt has investigated the question of the Lest 
possible distribution of magnetic observatories, the combined 
efforts of which should be brought to bear fully on the magnetic 
problems of uppermost importance. He has shown that the 
addition of very few permanent magnetic observatories would 
very greatly improve the present conditions. Among the localities 
where such additional magnetic observatories could render a signal 
service to magnetic science, Australia and New Zealand are 
specially pointed out. The great importance of a permanent 
magnetic observatory in New Zealand has Jong been recognised 
by leading magneticians, on account of its geographical position. 
The establishment of such an observatory in the immediate 
future seems to be a duty which New Zealand owes to the scientific 
world, as it would be hardly justifiable for any country to deny 
such a great service to science. 
Indeed, the indifference of the colonies in terrestrial magnetism 
has been publicly pointed out at Home, and has called forth a 
well-merited reproach from scientific authorities. 
The Melbourne Observatory occupies in this respect a very 
humiliating position, for although a continuous record of the 
values and variations of the magnetic elements has been most 
carefully and industriously kept up for the last thirty years, no 
