504 Proceedings. 



position of Sydney — is, in all probability, most correct, having been taken 



under very favourable circumstances. Thus : — H . m. sec. 



E. 9 39 54-80 



E. 24 55-81 



E. 2-63 



• t» • • • ■ • • t « 



Melbourne Observatory 



Difference to Sydney, by telegraphic observation 



Fort Macquarie ... 

 Difference to New Zealand 



• •• »•• • ■ • • • • » « 



• • • • • • ••• • i 



Probable true longitude of Pipitea Point 

 Wellington Observatory 



• • • • . 



* • ■ i • « • • . . 



Well 



E. 



W. 



1 34 



15-53 



11 39 



8-77 

 2-88 



11 39 5-89 



This is about two seconds less than the longitude given by Captain Nares, 

 but I think it should be preferred, as he himself points out that the " Chal- 

 lenger " observations were not taken under the most favourable circumstances, 

 I have, etc., James 



The Hon, the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. 



- 



Memorandum for Br. Hector, F.H.S. 



The meridian distance between the usual observatory place at Sydney 



Hector 



Wellingt 



min. 



make 



of the Observatory at Wellington, it is necessary to know the exact position of 

 that Observatory with reference both to the Cathedral and Pipitea Point. 

 Unfortunately neither of these positions are given on the plans furnished us 

 by the local surveyor, so that we are obliged to have recourse to the small plan 

 of the port published by the Admiralty ; and it was also unfortunate that we 

 were unable to observe at Pipitea Point (the position selected by Captain 

 Stokes), but now this has become the railway terminus the vibration of the 

 ground renders it impossible to obtain accurate observations in this locality, 

 and, being at the time unaware an Observatory had been established at 

 Wellington, we chose the Cathedral, as being a building likely to be perma- 

 nent, and in the vicinity of which good observations might always be obtained. 

 To compare the meridian distance obtained by us with that of Captain 

 Stokes, both are referred to the Observatory at Sydney and Pipitea Point. 



Captain Stokes' meridian distance is 



II. M. SEC. 



From Fort Macquarie, Sydney, to Pipitea Point 1 34 15-53 



Macquai 



# . • • . . 



2-63 



Sydney Observatory to Pipitea Point 1 34 18-16 



The " Challenger's " meridian distance is- 



From Garden Island Observatory A to Cathedral, Wel- 



a , lin gton x 34 15 . 47 



Sydney Observatory west of Garden Island Observatory A 5-73 



Sydney Observatory to the Cathedral, "Wellington 1 34 21-20 



The Cathedral west of Pipitea Point 



• • • • • . 



87 



Sydney Observatory to Pipitea Point 1 34 22-07 



