526 Neiv Zealand Institute, 



extra telegrams when necessary, an isobaric map is constructed for each, day, 

 and a general report for each of the above aspects is prepared, and warnings 

 are telegraphed to any part of the coast when dangerous winds or heavy 

 seas are apprehended. This local weather signalling is still performed as 

 efficiently as hitherto by Captain Edwin, E.N., whose services have now 

 been transferred fn'om the Marine to the Meteorological Department. 

 These observations are also in part used as second-class station returns, 

 for statistical purposes. 



3. A large number of third-class stations are being established, at which 

 Government officials and amateurs will record the rain-fall, temperature, 

 wind, and weather changes. 



4. At the second meeting of the Conference, held in Melbourne in April 

 last, a system of intercolonial weather exchanges was agreed upon, and 

 telegrams are exchanged daily between Sydney and Wellington in a special 

 code, the former giving an abstract of the weather, particularly the move- 

 ment of storm centres and atmospheric disturbances in Australia, and the 

 latter the same for New Zealand. These abstracts are supplied to the 

 Press Agencies, and are telegraphed to the morning papers throughout the 

 colony. 



The experience of two months has proved that this system will be of 

 especial value to New Zealand,, as the progress of nearly all storms appears 

 to be from west to east, so that after the system has been more fully studied 

 it will be capable of affording from three to five days' warning of the 

 approach of marked atmospheric disturbances. 



OBSEKVATOEY. 



The new sidereal clock has been placed in position for some months, and 

 the chronograph having now arrived, the work of observation and distribu- 

 tion of correct time will be greatly facilitated as soon as the instruments 

 have been thoroughly established. 



The time-signals have been given with fair regularity, the transit observa- 

 tions being taken, as hitherto, by the Ven. Archdeacon Stock, B.A., who 

 also personally superintends the setting of the local time-ball on those days 

 for which time is notified in the morning paper ; signals are also sent on 

 those days to Lyttelton for the purpose of rating the clock which drops the 

 time-ball at that port ; but the utility and accuracy of the system might be 

 greatly increased if it were extended to the other chief ports of the colony, 

 and if a direct mechanical control of the local clocks were effected from th^ 

 Observatory, as is done in other countries. 



LABOEATOEY. 



During the past year 357 analyses have been performed in the Colonial . 

 Laboratory, so that the laboratory number now arrived at is 3,034, 



