Otago Institute. 551 



what steps our Institute took in forwarding the interests and views of the 

 observing parties sent from the opposite quarter of the globe to our shores. 

 On learning, in the early part of last year, that two expeditions were to be 

 sent to New Zealand — one being from England, and the other from the 

 United States of America — T at once took measures to have' your advice, as to 

 the possible manner in which we might be useful. So, in compliance with 

 my motion, a committee of the Institute was formed, when it was decided 

 that the most necessary information to the leaders of the expedition would be 

 in regard to climate, localities, and facilities for travelling. Maps and reports 

 were consequently drawn up by this committee — consisting of Messrs. 



M'Kerrow, Skey, and myself — one packet of which was sent to the Astronomer 

 Royal at Greenwich, the other to the States Astronomer at Washington. 

 "Whether the former reached its destination or not I am not aware, as I have 

 been favoured with no reply to my letter accompanying the documents ; but 

 in regard to the latter we had immediate acknowledgment to the effect that 

 our papers had been handed over to the leader of the expedition (Professor 

 Peters), and who, on his arrival in New Zealand, would carefully consider our 

 suggestions. Fortunately the American expedition was preceded by the 

 second in command (Lieut. Bass), who, on his arrival, called on myself and 

 Mr. M'Kerrow, and who, accompanied by the latter, proceeded into the 

 interior to examine the country and judge of the climate for himself. Having 

 done this, the expedition was waited for at Bluff Harbour. On the arrival of 

 Professor Peters we were early informed that the recommendations of our 

 Institute would be virtually followed, by the observing party proceeding 

 into the interior and fixing their observatory at Queenstown, instead of 

 remaining at the Bluff, as originally intended. The result you all 

 know. The American expedition has been singularly and uniquely successful, 

 they having obtained observations of the ingress of the planet on the sun's 

 disc, besides securing 160 photographs of its positions while in transit — the 

 latter being of the highest value to them. Professor Peters himself, when in 



Dunedin, did us the favour to explain to our Institute the peculiar value he 

 set on his photographic diagrams in relation to the great power of the 

 apparatus by which these were produced, its highly ingenious mode of applica- 

 tion ; also, in regard to its mathematical accuracy. Hence the high estimation 

 which he put on what he had obtained. In this respect, also, he was greatly 

 more completely equipped than any of the other expeditions observing in or near 

 our shores. The scientific world may therefore particularly congratulate 

 themselves on his success, as, owing to the failure of all other expeditions, 

 the most valuable data have been secured for all nations. 



Now, as Professor Peters himself remarked to us, what would have been 

 the use of his coming here with all his delicate instruments, and at so great an 



