Proceedings. &c, for 1884. 165 



A letter was read from Dr. Davy, of Malmsbury, on the 

 '•' Extinction of Waves at the Entrance of Harbours." Mr. 

 Davy's proposal was to moor floating bodies, which, being unable 

 to rise with the waves, would reduce the volume of the wave 

 when it had passed them. With two or three series of these 

 floating bodies, Mr. Davy thought that the interior of harbours 

 might be rendered perfectly safe. 



A discussion ensued, in which it was asserted that the impos- 

 sibility of mooring large bodies to the rocks at the bottom of the 

 sea, so as to withstand the momentum of great waves, would be 

 an insuperable obstacle. 



Mr. Stirling read a paper on the " Meteorology of the Austra- 

 lian Alps." 



A discussion ensued, in which some peculiarities of climate in 

 the Australian Alps were noticed, particularly a fact stated by 

 Mr. Ellery to be of frequent occurrence — the higher temperature 

 of the higher portions of mountain valleys. It seems that crops, 

 such as potatoes, are often killed by the cold in the lower part of 

 the valleys, while they sometimes thrive well half-way up the 

 hill-sides overlooking the same valleys. 



ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION A. 



February 27th, 1884. 



Mr. J. H. Fraser read a paper on " Underground Telegraphs." 



He pointed out the dangers arising from aerial lines, and con- 

 tended that, as the underground system is being extensively used 

 in Europe with satisfactory results, we should lose no time in 

 adopting it in this country. 



One great advantage of underground telegraphs is immunity 

 from thunderstorms. 



During the course of his remarks Mr. Fraser exhibited several 

 pieces of cables of the kind in common use, and pointed out their 

 various advantages. One of the best is the Patterson Cable, in 

 which about fifty insulated wires, surrounding a return wire, are 

 enclosed in a lead pipe. The great difficulty hitherto has been to 

 exclude moisture ; this is fairly well done in the Patterson Cable 

 by forcing paraffin oil and carbonic dioxide into the pipes by 

 heavy pressure. 



As to the distribution of the wires, Mr. Fraser suggests that 

 main cables should be laid along the principal streets in such a 

 way as to divide the area supplied into rectangular sections, one 



