132 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE.—1913. 
These are subjects which seem particularly suitable for the British 
Association, since they are such as cannot be efficiently pursued by 
uncoordinated individual effort. 
In order to promote the necessary widespread observations, the 
Committee propose to draw up a simple scheme of instructions which 
will be circulated to amateurs throughout this country, and also, 
with the permission of the Companies concerned, to operators on ships. 
These instructions would include directions for simultaneous observa- 
tions of, forexample, the strength of the time-signals from such stations 
as the Hiffel Tower, and the average strength and frequency of strays. 
The observations would subsequently be classified and reduced by this 
Committee; and it is felt that this work would open up at once an 
almost unexplored, and exceedingly promising, branch of research— 
one which cannot be entered upon in any other way. It is, of course, 
essential that the work should be carried out over a very large area and 
by very numerous observers; and after full consideration of this fact 
the Committee resolved to apply for a grant of 2001. to enable the work 
to be started in a thorough manner, 
Establishing a Solar Observatory in Australia.—Report of the 
Committee, consisting of Sir Davip GitL (Chairman), Dr. 
W. G. Dorrietp (Secretary), Rev. A. Iu. Contig, Dr. 
W. J. S. Lockyer, Mr. F. McCruran, and Professors A. 
Scuuster and H. H. Turner, appointed to aid the work of 
Establishing a Solar Observatory in Australia. 
Tue following Resolution was passed by the Council of the Royal 
Meteorological Society in October 1912 :— 
‘The Council of the Royal Meteorological Society desires to asso- 
ciate itself with the movement to establish a Solar Observatory in 
Australia and expresses the decided opinion that such an observatory in 
the longitude of Australia or New Zealand is essential for the elucida- 
tion of the connection between solar changes and meteorological con- 
ditions upon the earth. It regards with great satisfaction the oppor- 
tunity at present afforded to the Government of Australia of acquiring 
the equipment necessary to initiate this work.’ 
The opportunity referred to was the offer of the balance of the 
necessary equipment of a Solar Observatory which comprised a spectro- 
heliograph, pyrheliometer, and Littrow spectrograph. The Fisher 
Ministry did not at the time see its way to the immediate acceptance 
of this offer on the ground that ‘ the establishment of scientific observa- 
tories is a matter for the future, and the organisation of such institu- 
tions should perhaps be left in the hands of those who may at some 
future time be appointed to take charge of them.’ 
Mr. Fisher’s Ministry passed out of office during the year and has 
been succeeded by that of Mr. Cook. The new Ministry has been 
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