Ixvi Proceedings of the South African Philosophical Society. 



make this history complete the Council will permit my words on that 

 occasion to be added as an appendix to the present address. 



The system of signals for the regulation of time throughout the 

 Colony has been regularly maintained. Previous to February 8, 

 1892, this signal was 'given at one o'clock local mean time, but on 

 and after that date the one o'clock Observatory mean time signal 

 was discontinued, and a single signal at Greenwich mean noon was 

 substituted. 



At the same time arrangements were made for changing the civil 

 time of the Colony. Previous to the date in question Observatory 

 mean time was used for telegraph purposes throughout the Colony, 

 and the disconnected railway systems used the local time of their 

 principal terminal station. 



Each principal town had clocks fitted with two hands, one showing 

 local, the other railway time. On the junction of the Eastern and 

 Western railway systems of the Colony some change in the time 

 arrrangements became necessary, and it was decided that the 

 meridian of 22 J° E. of Greenwich should be adopted for all time 

 purposes throughout the Colony. Circulars were prepared giving a 

 popular explanation of the proposed change, the magistrates, field- 

 cornets and other town or village authorities were separately 

 instructed that — 



"At midnight on Sunday, February 7th, the public clocks at 



forwards ) , , 



should be set \ ^ ^ -i 

 backwards 



The change of time was thus made simultaneously throughout the 

 Colony without the slightest hitch or inconvenience — indeed, a week 

 after it took place it seemed to have been generally forgotten that 

 any change had been made. This uniform time of the Cape Colony 

 has since been adopted in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony. 



It is a matter of regret to me that when the change was made the 

 meridian of 30° (two hours) E. of Greenwich was not adopted, as I 

 strongly urged that it should' be, in accordance with the Inter- 

 national programme. That programme, however, has been adhered 

 to, as far as possible, by giving the signal at Greenwich mean noon, 

 which corresponds with half-past one o'clock of the presently adopted 

 meridian, and would correspond with two o'clock if the meridian of 

 0° E. were adopted. 



It is now proposed, I believe, to adopt the international arrange- 

 ment — the time signal can then be given at one or tw^o o'clock as 

 may be desired." 



* Since the 1st of March, 1903, the meridian of 30° E. of Greenwich has been 

 adopted. 



