6 PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 
The Great African Arce of Meridian. 
In connection with the progress of geodesy, time only permits me to 
say a few words about the great African arc on the 30th meridian, 
which it is a dream of my life to see completed. 
The gap in the arc between the Limpopo and the previously executed 
triangulation in Rhodesia, which I reported to the Association at the 
Johannesburg meeting in 1905, has now been filled up. My own efforts, 
at 6,000 miles distance, had failed to obtain the necessary funds, but at 
Sir George Darwin’s instance contributions were obtained from this 
Association, from the Royal Society and others, to the extent of half the 
estimated cost ; the remaining half was met by the British South Africa 
Company. But for Darw‘t.’s happy intervention, which enabled me to 
secure the services of Captain Gordon and his party before the Transvaal 
Survey Organisation was entirely broken up, this serious gap in the great 
work would probably have long remained ; for it is one thing to add to 
an existing undertaking of the kind, it is quite another to create a new 
organisation for a limited piece of work. 
Since then Colonel (now Sir William) Morris has brought to a conclusion 
the reductions of the geodetic survey of the Transvaal and Orange River 
Colony, and his report is now in my hands for publication. 
Dr. Rubin, under my direction, at the cost of the British South 
Africa Company, has carried the arc of meridian northwards to S$. lati- 
tude 9° 42’, so that we have now continuous triangulation from Cape 
L’Agulhas to within fifty miles of the southern end of Lake Tanganyika ; 
that is to say, a continuous geodetic survey extending over twenty-five 
degrees of latitude. 
It happens that, for the adjustment of the international boundary 
between the British Protectorate and the Congo Free State, a topographic 
survey is at the present moment being executed northward along the 
30th meridian from the northern border of German East Africa, A 
proposal on the part of the Royal Society, the Royal Geographical 
Society, the British Association, and the Royal Astronomical Society has 
been made to strengthen this work by carrying a geodetic triangulation 
through it along the 30th meridian, and thus adding 2}° to the African 
arc. These Societies together guarantee 1,000/. towards the cost of the 
work, and ask for a like sum from Government to complete the estimated 
cost. The topographic survey will serve as the necessary reconnaissance. 
The topographic work will be completed by the end of January next, and 
the four following months offer the best season of the year for geodetic 
operations in these regions. 
There is a staff of skilled officers and men on the spot sufficient to 
complete the work within the period mentioned, and the Intercolonial 
Council of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony most generously offers 
to lend the necessary geodetic instruments. The work will have to be 
done sooner or later, but if another expedition has to be organised for the 
