PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 15 



tremendous. A blizzard of unusual severity swept over this 

 country on March 27 and 28, and caused much damage, 

 the speed of the wind rising in some places to 80 miles an 

 hour. The barometer on March 27 fell below 29, but on 

 March 29 had risen an inch in 24 hours. Gun firing has been 

 reported to have been heard during the present war at great 

 distances from the scene of action, at 125, 140, and in one 

 case, on somewhat more doubtful evidence, at 150 miles. 

 The distance is doubtless dependent to a great extent on 

 atmospheric conditions. A beautiful aurora w r as seen in 

 England in the evening of November 5 last. A luminous 

 arch variously described as pale rose-lemon or whitish green 

 or colourless by observers in different parts, was intersected 

 by bright streamers shooting up from the horizon and 

 receding and having a rotary movement towards the left. 

 It was seen in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Essex, &c. Swedish 

 observations of aurorse about 2,500 in number, have given 

 the most usual height above the earth as from about 90 to 

 130 kilometres, none being below 90, whilst they occasionally 

 reach a height of 230 kilometres. 



ELECTRICITY. 



In experimenting with wireless telephony the great distance 

 of 2,500 miles has been covered by the United States Navy 

 Department, and if the results should prove to be reliable 

 under all conditions, a great advance will have been made 

 in this branch. Under the direction of the Royal Society 

 the magnetic re -survey of the British Isles is being continued 

 as fast as can be done owing to the war, and but few districts 

 remain to be surveyed. Much interference with the telegraph 

 service took place over a large area of N. America stretching 

 right across the Continent during a fine display of aurora on 

 the night of June 16, 1915, and a magnetic storm of consider- 

 able magnitude took place in this country on June 17, 

 beginning at 1.50 a.m., and followed by other less intense 



