102 On Dove's Law of the 



The conductors in use at the magazine are not in ac- 

 cordance with the present advanced state of knowledge on 

 the subject of electricity, and they ought not to be allowed to 

 remain in their present imperfect condition. There is, 

 however, another serious objection to the exposed situation 

 of the hill on which the magazine is situated. An enemy 

 coming up the river would have a good opportunity of lodging 

 a well directed shot, when the calamity from the elements 

 which we have heretofore escaped, might overtake us by the 

 hand of man. 



In conclusion, no further proof of the value of a good 

 conductor need be given, than the fact that since Sir S. 

 Harris' arrangement of band-copper conductors to Her 

 Majesty's vessels of war, no material damage has been sus- 

 tained by them, whilst under the old system of chains over 

 the ship's side, from the top of the mast to the water, an 

 incredible number of lives and much property were annually 

 sacrificed. 



Akt. XII. — On Dove's Law of the Turning of the Wind, as 

 illustrated and supported by Observations made at the 

 Flagstaff Meteorological and Magnetic Observatory , Mel- 

 bourne. By Professor George Netjmayer, Government 

 Meteorologist and Director of the Magnetic Survey of 

 Victoria. 



(With Four Plates.) 

 [Read before the Institute 31st August, 1859.] 



Mr. President and Gentlemen, — 



The subject I have chosen to bring before you is one 

 replete with interest, both in a theoretical and in a prac- 

 tical point of view. It is one which is calculated to yield 

 some aid to an understanding and a comprehension of the 

 causes of the currents in our atmosphere. It shows how 

 intimately connected these phenomena are, if traced to their 

 origin, while the superficial observer sees in them irrecon- 

 cilable and even conflicting facts. The law of the turning 

 of the winds gives an additional proof that a careful exami- 

 nation of such facts, and a simple and clear reasoning, will 

 put us in possession of the necessary premises whereupon to 

 found our conclusions, even anticipating the existence of laws 

 in nature which will sometime be demonstrated. As to the 

 practical interest attached to investigations on the currents 

 of our atmosphere, I do not need to dwell at any length, as 



