IIG 



METEOROLOGY. 



By victor stretch, 



Geologist to the; Expedition. 



Notes ra Meteorological Record. — A description and enumeration 

 of the meteorological instruments employed being unnecessary, it 

 remains here only to say a few -words about the method of observ- 

 ing, and also a few remarks as to the occasional observations 

 of meteorologically interesting phenomena. The hours of obser- 

 vation were 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m. The last-mentioned hour, 

 however, could not be kept during the earlier stages of the journey, 

 owing to the early hour at which the camp retired for the night. 

 The instruments themselves were read according to the instruc- 

 tions given by Mr. Todd, C.M.G., \\\ the handbook for the officers. 

 Concerning the completeness of the register, every effort was 

 made to keep it regularly posted ; but from unavoidable causes, 

 such as difficulties in travelling usually met with, or geological 

 researches of an engrossing nature receiving particular attention 

 at the hour for observation, several blanks in the register were 

 necessitated. The entries in the register state the simple reading- 

 off of the instruments, no corrections or reductions of any kind 

 have been made on them. The observations have been all made 

 by myself, except from the 10th to the 15th January, 1892, at 

 the Annean Station, Murohison, where, during my absence on a 

 flying trip to the neighbouring goldfields, Mr. Helms had the 

 goodness to keep the meteorological register, I having satisfied 

 myself from previous trials that our methods of observing were 

 alike. As it will be noticed, more elaborate observations were 

 made when in stationary camps (October, 1891, Eraser Range), 

 and also that a kind of " term observations " were made on the 

 21st of each month, at least whenever possible. It will be found 

 stated in the register (under the heading " Remarks ") when 

 observations were made in camp or en route. The barometrical 

 readings when en route, of course, cannot claim to be of great 

 importance as meteorological observations, as the height when read- 

 off' at the aforesaid hours differed sometimes considerably. Unfor- 

 tunately a great number of thermometers had to be sacrificed for 

 the sake of science, as all thermometrical observations were read 

 off after swinging, and to swing a thermometer on camel back 

 without accident in a dense Australian bush is by no means an 

 easy matter. Fortunately, however, the supply was sufficient to 

 prevent the loss of any records in the register. 



