76 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION A. 



all these places with the exception of Sydney, where the 

 observer was kept on until 1855, when for some reason not 

 stated he suddenly left the colony. It seems probable that he had 

 grown lax in his duty and that the advent of an energetic Governor, 

 Sir William Denison, made it, in his opinion, undesirable that he 

 sliould remain at his post any longer, particularly as the Governor 

 Avas known to take a deep interest in astronomy and meteorlogy. 



[Votes and Proceediiigs, N.S.W., 1848.] 



In 1851, however, Captain King wrote; "I have reason to 

 believe that the South Head Observer, Mr. Peacock, would be a 

 proper person to make the observations. I think he is punctual 

 and correct, on which everything tliat makes such records valuable 

 depends," 



The Government, however, would not continue to pay observers, 

 as appears by the following letter : — 



Copy of Despatch from the Right Honorable the Secretary of State to His 

 Excellency Sir C. A. Fitzroy. 



No. 162 DowNisG Street, 



3rd June, 1847. 



Sir, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your predecessor's Despatch 

 No. 144, of the 7th July, 1846, containing the explanation he had been called 

 upon to give in respect of the expense, and other circumstances relating to 

 the question of the maintenance of the offices of Astronomer at Parramatta, 

 and of the Meteorological Recorders at Port Macquarie, Melbourne, and 

 South Head. 



I have also received your Despatch of the 30tb October last, No. 45, 

 having exclusive reference to the three last mentioned appointments, and 

 especially as regards the sources from which the charge of the salaries of 

 the Recorders, when the convicts who now perform that duty shall become 

 free. 



I referred copies of both these Despatches to the Boards of Treasury and 

 of the Admiralty, and the result of the correspondence which has since 

 taken place on the subject has been to show tliat the advantages, in a 

 scientific point of view, arising from the Observatory at Parramatta are not 

 such as to justifj' its being continued at the cost of the British Treasury. 



It will therefore be your duty to acquaint Mr. Dunlop that his services, 

 as Superintendent, will not be required after the 31st March, 1848, up to 

 which period only provision will be made for his salary in the estimates for 

 expenditure connected with the Convict Establishment in New South 

 Wales. 



With respect to the three offices of Meteorological Recorders already 

 noticed, Her Majesty's Government consent to the present rate of allowance 

 (i.e., Is. 6d. per day) being paid to them only so long as the parties employed 

 in the service are convicts, and who must otherwise be maintained at the 

 expense of the Home Government. 



I hav^e, &c., 



(Signed) GREY. 



Governor Sir C. A. Fitzroy, &c., &c. 

 A-55. 



The observations were accordingly discontinued in Melbourne in 

 1850, at Port Macquarie in 1850, and in Sydney in 1855. The 

 manuscript returns are in the Sydney Observatory ; but part were 

 published in the current numbers of the Government Gazette. 



