for the year 1871. xxxix 



Eeturning to the subject of the solar eclipse, it may be 

 mentioned that the committee appointed at our meeting in 

 April last, to endeavour to organise the expedition to Cape 

 York to witness the total ecHpse in December next, have 

 held several meetings, made many of the necessary inquiries, 

 and communicated with kindred societies in the neighbour- 

 ing colonies. The eclipse will take place on the 12th 

 December next. The path of totality crosses the northern 

 portion of Austraha. The nearest available portion of this 

 path for an expedition starting from here will be about Cape 

 Sidmouth, somewhat south of Somerset, Cape York. The 

 proposition is to charter a large and powerful steamer to 

 proceed from Melbourne at the end of November, calling at 

 Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, and Rockhampton, so as to 

 reach Cape Sidmouth a few days before the 12th of 

 December. The approximate cost of a large steamer for the 

 trip is estimated at ^£'2,000, which will include everything 

 usually supplied to first-class passengers in our best inter- 

 colonial steamers — and it is thought that if a sufficient 

 number of passengers offered themselves the cost to each 

 would not exceed £2h, and would probably be less. The 

 expedition is to be open, not only to members of this and 

 kindred societies in other colonies, but to any others who 

 may offer and be apjproved of by the Eclipse Committee. 

 It is estimated the trip would occupy from 25 to 30 days, 

 and it has further been suggested that the return trip might 

 be made "Oid Fiji. This Society has not in any way under- 

 taken to carry out this expedition unless a sufficient num- 

 ber of passengers offer themselves ; and it must be borne 

 in mind that to effectually organise it, two months, 

 or six weeks at least, will be necessary ; and if the 

 list of passengers be insufficient by the middle or at 

 latest the end of Sei)tember, the scheme will have to be 

 abandoned. 



