Annual Address to the Members. Ixv 



the inclinations and nodes, were also determined. Similar observa- 

 tions were made by Mr. Bryan Cookson with the Cape heliometer in 

 1901, and are being continued in the current year. The results of 

 these observations, together with series which it is proposed to take 

 during the next two or three years, will provide all the data now 

 wanting for the formation of tables whose real errors for many years 

 to come will probably be far less than the accidental errors of 

 observation. 



With regard to astronomical work of other kinds, mention may be 

 made of observation of the transit of Venus in 188iJ, of long series of 

 extra-meridian observations of occultations of stars by the moon, and 

 of all comets visible from the Cape during the past 23 years, and now 

 the regular observation with the heliometer of all oppositions of 

 major planets. 



In 1881 and 1882 the longitude of Aden, previously determined in 

 connection with Lord Crawford's transit of Venus expedition to 

 Mauritius in 1874, was connected with the Cape, the operation also 

 including determination of the longitudes of Durban, Delagoa Bay, 

 Quillimaine, Mozambique and Zanzibar. 



In 1889 operations were organised for determining the longitudes 

 of stations on the west coast of Africa. Commander PuUen, who 

 was to be the travelling observer, spent three weeks at the Observa- 

 tory in practising observing with the vertical circle, and afterwards 

 in determining his personal equation. In the course of the 

 operations he made the necessary time-determinations and exchange 

 of signals at Port Nolloth, Mossamedes, Benguela, St. Paul de 

 Loanda, Sao Thome and Bonny. At the last of these stations he 

 was seized with malarial fever on October 27th, but so far recovered 

 as to make observations and exchange longitude signals with the 

 Cape on the 29th. A relapse followed, but on the morning of 

 November 2nd he telegraphed to the Cape that he was much better 

 and expected to resume work in a few days ; the same evening he 

 became insensible, and died at his post early the following morning. 

 His papers were subsequently forwarded to the Cape, and the 

 observations on reduction proved to be of exceptional accuracy and 

 value, giving results for the longitudes of all the above-mentioned 

 stations of remarkable accuracy. 



With regard to the great field of work opened out by the presenta- 

 tion to the Observatory by Mr. Frank McClean of a large telescope 

 and observatory fitted for astrophysical work, I have recently spoken 

 at length on the occasion of the unveiling the inscription stone by 

 H.E. the Governor. I may therefore assume that we may take 

 that portion of the address as read ; but I hope that in order to 



