REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, Etc. 



Reports on Phijsical Sciences for which World-wide Observations 



are important. 



At a meeting of the Organising Committee of Section A, held on 

 May 11, 1916, the following Eesolution was passed: — 



That the Organising Committee of Section A endeavour to obtain 

 a series of Reports on the present state and prospects of those sciences 

 for which world-wide observations are important, such reports to aim 

 at: — 



(a!) A brief statement of present achievements. 



(b) A specification of problems immediately pressing. 



(c) A further specification of problems which should be considered 



in the near future, though not perhaps immediately. 



This Eesolution would apply in the cases of : — 



1. Geodesy and Surveying, including Gravity work. It was deter- 

 mined to invite a report from the Astronomer Eoyal, the Director of 

 the Ordnance Survey, and Major Hills, R.E., acting in concert and 

 with power to ask assistance from others. They were further requested 

 specially to consider the past and future relations to such work of the 

 International Geodetic Association. 



2. Meteorology. It was determined to invite a report from Sir 

 W. N. Shaw, asking him specially to consider the relation of the Inter- 

 national Meteorological Coiki^I to the work. 



3. Magnetic Observations. It was determined to invite a report from 

 Dr. Chree, asking him specially to consider the relation of the work 

 of the Carnegie Institution to other work. 



4. Tidal Observations and Currents. It was determined to invite a 

 report from Professor Lamb. 



5. Seismology. It was determined to invite a report from Dr. 

 G. W. Walker.' 



The following Reports have been received: — 



1. Report on Terrestrial Magnetism. By C. Chbee, D.Sc., F.B.S. 

 (See Report, 1917, p. 14.) 



2. Preliminary Report on Tides and Currents. By Professor H. 

 Lamb, F.R.S., and J. Peoudman. (See Report, 1918, p. 15.) 



