170 Report of the Kew Observatory Committee. 



and erection of a seismograph was favourably entertained by the 

 Government Grant Committee. The instrument has been ordered 

 from Mr. R. Munro, but has not yet been delivered. 



National Physical Laboratory Committee. A committee having 

 been appointed by Government " to consider and report upon the 

 desirability of establishing a National Physical Laboratory for the 

 testing and verification of instruments for physical investigation, 

 for the construction and preservation of standards of measurement, 

 and for the systematic determination of physical constant and 

 numerical data useful for scientific and industrial purposes ; and to 

 report whether the work of snch an institution, if established, could 

 be associated with any testing or standardising work already per- 

 formed wholly or partly at the public cost," the Chairman and the 

 Superintendent gave evidence before it. 



It is also proposed that the National Physical Laboratory Com- 

 mitttee should visit Kew Observatory at an early date. 



Library. During the year the library has received publications 

 from 



21 Scientific Societies and Institutions of Great Britain and 



Ireland, 

 102 Foreign and Colonial Scientific Establishments, as well as 



from several private individuals. 

 The card catalogue has been proceeded with. 



Audit, 8fc. The accounts for 1897 have been audited by Mr. W. B. 

 Keen, Chartered Accountant, on behalf of the Royal Society, and 

 by Professor Perry on behalf of the Committee. 



The balance sheet, with a comparison of the expenditure for the 

 two years, 1896 and 1897, is appended. 



PERSONAL ESTABLISHMENT. 



The staff employed is as follows : 



C. Chree, Sc.D., F.R.S., Superintendent. 



T. W. Baker, Chief Assistant. 



E. G. Constable, Observations and Rating. 



W. Hugo, Verification Department. 



J. Foster 



T. Gunter 



W. J. Boxall 



G. E. Bailey, Accounts and Library. 



E. Boxall, Observa.tions and Rating, and seven other Assistants. 



A Caretaker and Housekeeper are also employed. 



(Signed) W. GRYLLS ADAMS, 



pro Chairman. 

 March 29, 1898. 



