260 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION A. 
In order to secure observations of the first-class (non-instru- 
mental) at various up-country places, a circular was issued towards 
the end of 1895 inviting volunteer observers to join in the work, 
and fifty-one names were enlisted. After preliminary instruc- 
tions and practice, the work commenced on May 1, 1896, in 
accordance with the original resolutions of the I.M.C. 
On examining the returns of the first three months it was 
found that a little more than one-third of the observations were 
not sufficiently reliable, and the number of observers was reduced 
to about thirty. Some of these continued their work till May, 
1897, but only eighteen could be induced to extend their services 
to the end of the year; so that for the cloud year proper we 
have only the complete returns of eighteen observers, whose work 
is regarded as being entirely satisfactory throughout. 
The work of the other twelve observers, however, will be duly 
utilised. 
The returns contain records of observations made three times 
daily whenever practicable, and give for each observation :— 
Ist. The form of the cloud, in accordance with the classifica- 
tion of the I.M.C., and identified by means of the 
official cloud atlas. 
2nd. The approximate position in azimuth and altitude. 
3rd, The direction of motion within one point of the compass. 
4th. The apparent velocity. This was estimated in terms of 
a scale of 5, based on the time occupied by a selected 
point in the cloud to move through an are of 15°. 
5th. Special notes on cirrus clouds, the direction of cirrus 
bands, the position of their vanishing points, &e. 
6th. Direction and force of the surface wind, temperature of 
air, weather characteristics, and general remarks. 
There are some 20,000 such observations now ready for dis- 
cussion ; but as they were concluded only a few days ago, there 
has not been, nor will there be for some time, any opportunity of 
arranging this great mass of records in proper form for the 
deduction of results and publication in extenso as requested by 
the committee. 
For the second part of the work, namely, the determination 
of absolute height and velocity, a pair of stations for simultaneous 
observations were established, one being on the grounds of the 
Melbourne Observatory, and the other on the roof of Parliament 
House, at a distance of 6,820 feet, bearing N. 3° 38’ 51” W. 
After due consideration of my means and circumstances, I 
decided to adopt the photographic method which had been suc- 
cessfully employed at the Kew Observatory some years ago. 
This method alone makes it possible to conduct the operations 
with all the required efficiency by means of a few simple and 
