504 Proceedings. 



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



under very favourable circumstances. Thus : — 



Melbourne Observatory 



Difference to Sydney, by telegraphic observation 



Fort Macquarie ... 



Difference to New Zealand 





II. 



M. 



SEC. 



E. 



9 



39 



54-80 



E. 





24 



55-81 



E. 







2-63 



E. 



1 



34 



15-53 



Probable true longitude of Pipitea Point ... ... 11 39 8*77 



Wellington Observatory ... ... ... ... W. 2-88 



Probable true longitude of Wellington Observatory ... 11 39 5*89 



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

 but 1 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 Hector. 



The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. 



Memorandum for Dr. Hector^ F.R.S. 



The meridian distance between the usual observatory place at Sydney 

 (viz., the Flagstaff at Garden Island) and the Cathedral at Wellington, by the 

 " Challenger's" chronometers, was found to be Ihr. 34min. 15 -47 sec. 



In order to make this meridian distance of use, to determine the longitude 

 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 — 



H. M. BEC. 



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



Sydney Observatory west of Fort Macquarie ... ... 2-G3 



Sydney Observatory to Pipitea Point 



The " Challenger's " meridian distance is — 



From Garden Island Observatory A to Cathedral, Wel- 

 lington ... 

 Sydney Observatory west of Garden Island Observatory A 



Sydney Observatory to the Cathedral, Wellington... 

 Tlic Cathedral west of Pipitea Point 



Sydney Observatory to Pipitea Point 1 34 22-07 



1 34 

 1 34 



18-lC 



15-47 

 5-73 



1 34 



21-20 



•87 



