36 LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



urging them, to show that the importance of such 

 observations (if feasible) had not been overlooked. It 

 has been shown, and is now admitted, that they are 

 feasible in 1874. What, then, I ask, will be thought 

 of this country if the task which is her duty shall be 

 neglected ? It was sufficiently unfortunate that the 

 opportunity had been so long overlooked. But it will 

 be nothing less than a national calamity, if, having 

 been recognised in ample time to be employed, that 

 opportunity be altogether neglected. 



Now, after four years' delay, time runs short indeed. 

 It is essential that any party intended to observe the 

 transit, should be landed before the Antarctic summer 

 of 1873-74 draws near its end certainly before the 

 middle of February 1874. There may not be time for 

 sending a suitably provided expedition from England. 

 On this point it is for others to speak. I should say, 

 however, that unquestionably there is time for sending 

 an expedition from Tasmania or New Zealand. It was 

 in fact proposed in 1868 by Captain Richards (Hydro- 

 grapher to the Admiralty) that New Zealand should be 

 made the head-quarters of the expedition then being 

 planned for observing the transit of 1882 from Posses- 

 sion Island. One can see no reason why this plan 

 should not now be resumed for securing the more 

 valuable observations which can be made during the 

 transit of 1874. 



If we inquire what has been done towards preparing 

 for observations by Delisle's method, we shall see that 

 by a very slight modification of the Government 



