Report. 



471 



hitherto, by the Ven. Archdeacon Stock ; but the Observatory has lost a 

 valuable amateui- assistant through the death of Mr. John Kebbell, who for 

 many years past devoted a great deal of his time and unrivalled mechanical 

 skUl to its interests. 



A vote was obtained last session for the supply of a second rating clock 

 and chronograph, and the necessary order has been sent to the Agent- 

 General, with instructions to obtain it from the best maker in London. 



The time-ball at Welhngton is dropped by the Observatory clock, and 

 the same time is supplied for droppuig the time-ball at Lyttelton ; but in 

 neither case is the dropping-macliine under the control of this department. 

 It is very desirable that some uniform system of distributing correct time 

 to the most important seaports should be organized, as inaccurate time- 

 balls are apt to mislead ships' captains, who are accustomed to seaports in 

 other countries where extreme importance is attached to the accuracy of the 



time-ball service. 



Labobatory. 



The number of analyses performed in the Colonial Laboratory during 

 the past year is 235, which makes up the total number to 2401. 



These are subdivided as follows, the same classification being used as 

 heretofore : — 



Coals and oils ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 



Eocks and minerals ... ... ... ... ... 85 



Metals and ores ... ... ... ... ... ... 62 



Examinations for silver and gold ... ... ... 88 



Waters 15 



Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... ... ... 33 



Certam special processes have been employed in different examinations 

 which have been conducted durmg the past year, and a description of these 

 will be found in the usual report, with the results obtained in the various 

 samples to which they refer. 



All analyses of interest or importance have been also reproduced in full, 

 together with such notes as have been furnished to the contributors in 

 reporting on the specimens submitted for examination. 



Library. 

 Two hundred volumes have been added to the library since June, 1878. 

 They consist chiefly of the publications of British and foreign scientific 

 societies, received in exchange for the Transactions of the New Zealand 

 Listitute. 



The whole of the books have been systematically arranged, and a cata- 

 logue made ; but here, as in other parts of the Museum, the want of 

 sufficient space leads to great inconvenience. 



