Report of the Kew Observatory Committee. 161) 



desirable in the system of marks and in the dating of certificates, 

 a circular has been issued to ascertain the general opinion of watch 

 manufacturers and others interested in the matter. 



Marine Chronometers. During the year, 65 chronometers have been 

 entered for the Kew A and B trials ; of these 49 gained certificates, 

 and 16 failed to pass. 



The present box for the "cold" test of chronometers proving 

 inadequate, it is intended during the winter of 1897-98 to fit up a 

 larger and much improved chamber to hold a considerable number 

 of movements. This, it is expected, will remove much of the diffi- 

 culty and expense of maintaining the low temperature of 45 during 

 the summer months. 



The relay of the chronograph working in circuit with the standard 

 mean-time clock " French " having proved rather uncertain in its 

 action daring the latter part of May, it was decided to have the 

 entire apparatus overhauled. This was carried out in June by 

 Messrs. E. Dent & Co., and an improved relay and new armatures 

 were fitted. It has since performed well. During the interval the 

 time signals were recorded on a galvanometer (P.O. pattern). 



VII. MISCELLANEOUS. 



Paper. Prepared photographic paper has been supplied to the 

 Observatories at Hong Kong, Mauritius, St. Petersburg, Toronto, 

 Oxford (Kadcliffe), and Stonyhurst, and through the Meteorological 

 Office to Aberdeen, Batavia, Fort William, and Valencia. 



Anemograph and Sunshine Sheets have also been sent to Hong Kong 

 and Mauritius, and papier Saxe to Coimbra, and a number of Campbell- 

 Stokes sunshine recorders to St. Petersburg. At the request of the 

 India Office, a drum chronograph with best frictional governors, to 

 be used for astronomical and transit work, was made by Messrs. 

 Thomas Cook and Sons, of York, and, after erection and examination 

 at Kew, was forwarded to the Colaba Observatory, Bombay. 



Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. Specimens of the curves from 

 the various self-recording apparatus and cloud photographs were 

 lent for exhibition at the Crystal Palace and safely returned. 



Ships' Compasses. With the kind assistance of Captain E. W. 

 Creak, R.N., F.R.S., regulations have been laid down for the separate 

 verification of old or additional cards for compass bowls previously 

 tested. 



Travellers 1 Azimuth Compasses. After the conclusion of the special 

 experiments mentioned last year, a report was submitted to tho 

 Royal Geographical Society. 



Painting of the Building. The whole exterior of the building was 

 painted in April and May by H.M. Office of Works. 



Seismograph. An application for a grant of 60 for the purchase 



