16 _ ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 7 
Referring to Mr. Belcher’s paper, which the British Association 
did not think worth publication, Professor Everett, President of 
the Meteorological Society, said— The subject (cannons and rain) 
was not a new one. In several parts of America the farmers, iB 
order to produce rain, gather a large quantity of wood and bum 
it on their respective farms on the same day. He believed that 
great battles and great fires tended to produce rain, but rain did 
not necessarily follow battles or fires.” Not wishing to detain yal 
over the multitude of observed facts, I have endeavoured to give 
a condensed account of them, and of the opinions of some of the 
leading scientific authorities upon the possibility of producing rain 
artificially. It must, however, be borne in mind that the facts 
observed may easily mislead, and it would appear that the 
criticism of the editor of Silliman’s Journal is justified ; for there 
is a want of scientific accuracy in Mr. Powers’ investigation, ag 
the matter is so difficult of proof that the mere collection & 
favourable instances, omitting the important element of i 
interval or time between the battles and rain, as well as aft 
battles and explosions not followed by rain, cannot be considert 
satisfactory evidence. As it is impossible for me to fill in thes 
details here, I have endeavoured to collect the records bearing 
upon this matter in Australia. Battles are supposed to be prime 
movers in such effects ; fortunately, in one respect we have et, 
to refer to; but it is unfortunate for our present discussion | 
because the climate of Australia is peculiar, and instances of oe 
effects on the spot would have been very valuable. We cam only 
refer to the mimic battle in April, 1881, When this is compa 
with previous occasions even, we got through a deal of powad 
For several days before the sham-fight the weather had bee® Ma 
wet, and on the morning of the day of the fight it began to cla 
and the day became bright and fine as the firing went on; aad 
although heavy rain had just ceased, which was proof of abundast 
miaubeis in the air, there was no return of the rain, eX? | 
