265 



ASTRONOMICAL SECTION 



OF THE 



JogalgodctjD of §outk Australia. 



SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



In submitting this report, the Committee congratulate their 

 fellow-members on the continued success of the Section as a 

 society, the roll showing a slight increase in strength, notwith- 

 standing some having dropped out by reason of not paying their 

 subscriptions under Rule XI. 



■ Five general meetings have been held during the past year, 

 one of which was devoted to viewing the stars by the aid of 

 the Equatorial in the dome of the Observatory ; another being 

 entirely given up to the discussion of the subject of a Bill then 

 before Parliament, by which it was proposed to make an 

 alteration in the standard time of the colony, and which, by a 

 resolution of the Legislative Council, had been referred to the 

 Astronomical Section for a report thereon. This meeting was 

 held on the 25th August, 1898, and was largely attended, and 

 the following resolution unanimously carried : — " That if in the 

 commercial interest of South Australia any change is desirable, 

 it should be in the alteration of the nominal hours of business 

 rather than in the prasent standard time, which is part of an 

 almost universal system." 



This resolution was embodied in a report, and immediately 

 thereafter forwarded to the Honorable the Chief Secretary as 

 the report of the Section on the said Bill. 



The Committee met five times during the past year. 



Papers on the following subjects have been read : — 

 " The New Astronomy." Lady Brown. 

 " Time and its Measurement." Sir Charles Todd, F.R.S. 

 " Is it probable there can be a Second Moon to the Earth." 

 Capt. Lee. 



These and other cognate subjects have been discussed at the 

 General Meetings. 



