vi Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 



is essentially an agricultural country, and the study of meteorology 

 has for the agriculturist immense economic importance. 



The Imperial Government has been often urged to re-establish its 

 station at the Cape ; such an event is now impossible. The advent 

 of the electric tram has made the Eoyal Observatory an unsuitable 

 place for such work ; and it is scarcely dignified on our part to 

 approach the Home Authorities on such a local matter, when we 

 have done nothing ourselves. 



Perhaps I may be permitted to give a short account of the attempts 

 which have been made to get the Imperial Government to reopen its 

 station here. 



The British Association in 1887 reported " that the establishment 

 of regular magnetic observatories at the Cape of Good Hope and 

 in South America would materially contribute to our knowledge of 

 earth magnetism." 



Again in 1889 the British Association reported that it was " more 

 than ever of the opinion expressed in 1887." 



In 1891 the British Association reported that, thanks to Sir David 

 Gill's offer of hearty co-operation in the matter, it was of opinion 

 that at last the station was to be re-established ; unfortunately the 

 negotiations fell through. 



In 1898 the International Meteorological Commission approached 

 this time the Government of Cape Colony on the matter through the 

 president of the British Association. The Government of the day 

 expressed their sympathy, but said the time was unsuitable for 

 taking action. 



I may mention that the appeal to South America resulted in the 

 establishment of three stations by the Argentine. 



Still another attempt has been made to persuade the Colonial 

 Government to found such a station. The need is greater to-day 

 than ever it was ; and in 1904 a scheme was prepared and submitted 

 to the Government and received sympathetically by them. The 

 opinion of those of the leading magneticians of the world who were 

 consulted was entirely in favour of it, Dr. L. A. Bauer, of Washing- 

 ton, U.S.A., says in a letter on the matter: — 



II In setting forth the importance of a magnetic survey and of 

 magnetic observatories in South Africa, it will not be amiss to call 

 attention to the plans — partly in preparation and partly in execution 

 — for accomplishing a general magnetic survey of the greater portion 

 of the globe within a period of about fifteen or twenty years. This 

 will necessarily demand the active co-operation of all civilised 

 countries, and will make absolutely necessary the establishment of 

 magnetic observatories in well-placed localities such as yours." 



