xxvi President's Address for the year 1882. 



There is another point, however, which is worthy of note. 

 It has been shown by Dr. Tyndall that coal gas burnt with 

 intensified currents of air, heated by passing over metal sur- 

 faces kept at a high temperature by a special and separate 

 burner, can be so increased in illuminating power as to rival 

 the electric arc. Therefore, though gas and electricity are 

 destined to be rivals, the rivalry will spur on to improvement 

 and achievement redounding to the public advantage, and, as 

 a consequence, the prosperity of the several companies. 



In conclusion, I would refer to one scientific fact of the year, 

 of great importance — namely, the " Arctic expeditions" 

 which have been fitted out by the various European States 

 for concerted and extensive investigations in terrestrial 

 magnetism, auroras, polar meteorology, natural history, and 

 cognate physical science near both poles. There will be 

 eleven or twelve stations surrounding the North Polar 

 regions, one as far north as Franklin Bay, in latitude about 

 84 degs. north. These expeditions will be fitted out by 

 various European Governments. In the south the Germans 

 establish a point at South Georgia Island, the French a station 

 at Cape Horn, and the Italians a station in Patagonia, and 

 so on. These, in connection with our fixed meteorological 

 station in Melbourne, it is hoped will furnish a complete and 

 effective chain of observation over the period arranged for 

 the work — namely, from 1st September, 1882, to 1st Sep- 

 tember, 1883. It was at first hoped by the German Polar 

 Commission that the Australian colonies would probably co- 

 operate by forming observing stations more southerly than 

 Melbourne, but as the intimation of the desirability of such 

 a step reached here too late to take action with any prospect 

 of a practical result, the idea has been abandoned, and the co- 

 operation of the Melbourne Observatory only in this part of 

 the Southern Hemisphere can now possibly be given. 



