Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 



607 



1864.] 



when their indications are to be taken as the "basis of active measures 

 involving great interests. In truth, it may he stated as an invariable 

 axiom, that scientific data which cannot be confidently accepted as 

 trustworthy, are equally worthless to science and economics. 



Strongly holding this view, the Meteorological Committee cannot 

 recommend the adoption of any scheme which does not provide com- 

 petent means of observation, and skilled and intelligent, in other 

 words, special scientific supervision. They consider that in establish- 

 ing a system of Meteorological registration for India, it may be wise 

 not to aim at much detail, or at very extensive results at the outset, 

 but it will be better to devote whatever sums the Government may grant 

 for Meteorology, to provide a small but efficient staff, which may be 

 extended in such manner and direction as experience may hereafter 

 show to be advisable. It should be the duty of this staff, in the first 

 place, to review the existing machinery of observation ; to select and 

 improve such parts as may be found capable of yielding useful results ; 

 and the rest should be strictly excluded from the Government official 

 record as being only calculated to vitiate the general results if mixed 

 up with more accurate data. When, by selection and careful super- 

 vision, a reliable system of record shall have been established, a Central 

 Office will be necessary, at which the general results,, furnished by the 

 Local Officers of the staff, may be worked up into such a form as to 

 render them available to Government and Foreign Meteorological 

 bodies ; and in the interim the whole system should be under the 

 control of a skilled and trustworthy officer. 



The general scheme which the Committee would therefore recom- 

 mend, consists of the following parts : — 



1st. — A Superintendent. 



2nd. — Local Reporters, one to each of the seven Governments of 

 India. 



3rcL — Local observers, to be selected from those now existing, and 

 others, who should be furnished with compared instruments and in- 

 structions to ensure uniformity of results. 



The appointment, duties, and emoluments of each of these may be 

 treated somewhat more in detail. 



The Superintendent would be the sole responsible officer, to whose 

 intelligence and scientific knowledge the formation and administration 



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