102 Description and System of Working 



means of such an arrangement that we are enabled to keep 

 our registers in such order as to have them ready for publica- 

 tion whenever it may be desirable. 



With the systematically registered observations, we may 

 further enumerate the whole series of absolute measure- 

 ments in terrestrial magnetism, which are accomplished at the 

 beginning of every month, and which occupy, under the most 

 favourable circumstances, one day and a half of consecutive 

 observations. These observations are chiefly intended to 

 keep a constant check over the instruments in the horary 

 house — a precaution we cannot be too particular in adhering 

 to, especially in a country like this, where no observations of 

 the kind have hitherto been made. 



The magnetic part of the Observatory will, in its working, 

 furnish the facts on which to base a magnetic survey of the 

 colony, which will be carried out with the staff and the in- 

 struments of the Observatory, a large addition to which is 

 expected early, namely, those used by Professor Lamont in 

 making the magnetic survey of Spain. 



The collating of ships' logs is also carried on systemati- 

 cally, and those received are commonly of a two-fold nature; 

 either it is an abstract log issued by the Board of Trade or 

 Lieutenant Maury, or it is a common ship's journal. In the 

 latter case the log is thoroughly copied, but in such a way as 

 to classify the meteorological facts at once, according to geo- 

 graphical position, and for that purpose the ocean is divided, 

 on Maury's principle, into squares of 5 degrees longitude and 

 5 degrees latitude, each to receive the facts recorded as having 

 happened therein. In the former case only facts of a pecu- 

 liar character are extracted therefrom, and these facts are 

 classified according to Melbourne mean time, in order that 

 we may be able to recognise simultaneous occurrences in 

 nature. 



With regard to our coasts, I am happy to say that my 

 proceedings have been largely appreciated by the masters of 

 ships trading thereon, and that as the common form of log 

 is devoid of matter of interest for scientific investigation, I 

 was requested to issue forms which would facilitate the re- 

 gistration of meteorological facts, and a largely-signed petition 

 from masters of coasters was handed to me, which I hope 

 will lead to the organization of a meteorological system on 

 this coast. 



As it was my desire only to illustrate the mode of register- 

 ing the systematic observations, I will not allude to the large 



