ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 23 
must have travelled 667 miles per day. On the same day that 
the red skies appeared at New York, they appeared also at 
Victoria, British Columbia, about 2,200 miles westward. 
It seems needless to pursue the matter further. If these dates 
are at all trustworthy, we cannot account for them by dust from 
Krakatoa, for neither winds nor electrical repulsion would explain 
such erratic movements. Another difficulty in the way of admit- 
ting that Krakatoa is the source of the dust, is the persistency of 
the phenomena. Here at Sydney we have enjoyed frequent dis- 
plays of the rich celestial colourings for nearly eight months, and, 
although they have become fainter in the evenings, I am assured 
that some of the morning glows, within the last few weeks, have 
been as grand as ever. We are driven, therefore, to conclude 
that the dust, if dust is really the agent in question, must have 
been meteoric, and had its origin outside our earth. The dates 
however require fresh examination ; and this will, no doubt, be 
done effectually by the Committee lately appointed by the Royal 
Society of England to investigate the whole matter. 
It now only remains for me to induct my successor, Mr. Russell 
your newly elected President, and to take my leave. 
