256 REPORTS FROM THE SECTIONS. 
Mr. RussEeti read some notes on the ever memorable and 
disastrous storm of 10th Sept., 1876 (the “ Dandenong” gale). 
He traced the course of the gale in its progress through the 
olony. The high velocity of the wind (153 miles per * hour) 
registered by the Observatory instruments was confirmed beyond 
a doubt. Mr. Russell exhibited some maps and drawings in 
illustration of his paper. 
FRIDAY,.6 JULY, 1877. 
Mr. H. C. Russemn, F.R.A.S., &c., in the Chair. 
e CHatrMan exhibited a series of drawings of the “ Milky 
Way” in the neighbourhood of the “ Southern Cross.” Some of 
the drawings had been prepared at his request in the early part 
of 1873, by Messrs. Hirst, Lenehan, Savage, and others; the 
rest were drawn by himself ge recently. Mr. G. Hirs 
also submitted a drawing of the same part of the Galaxy made 
1 
accordance with each other. On comparison with the representa- 
noi made by Dunlop in 1827, and Sir John Herschel in 1837, 
sack’* 
10} inches sierane accompanied with a es notes on the 
alteration in the equatorial belt, the central portion of which 
was now white, in place of being yellow as aiecerad at the 
opposition of 1876. The green colour of the north polar 
markings was also much less perceptible this year than formerly. 
Mr. Russet stated that, observing the transit of one of the 
of the white spots occasionally seen in the equatorial belt. Any 
casual observer m might easily have mistaken the satellite for one 
of the white spots in question. Mr. Russell also gave some 
particulars about the well-known binary Alpba Centauri. The 
Alp 
components are rave appro Astin rag ecg will probaly 
occur in 1878. 
the i icted and observe ste of the ‘me 
acces of ie celebrated double star. Mr. Russell had bee 
