W. S. DUN. 



Joseph Brooks, l.s., f.r.a.s., f.r.g.s., was elected 

 a member of the Society in 1878. He was born at Stock- 

 port, England, in 1847, arriving in Adelaide at the age of 

 nine, and was educated at St, Peter's College. In 1877 lie 

 was appointed to the Survey Staff of the Lands Department 

 of this State, and for many years was in charge of various 

 trigonometrical surveys, being particularly interested in 

 astronomical work. The observations made by the late 

 Mr. J. Brooks in connection with the Trigonometrical 

 Survey of N.S.W., extended over twenty-five years, during 

 which period he observed at some 250 stations of the survey,. 

 The reduction of these observations has shown that they 

 are of a very high order of precision, and take rank with 

 those made in connection with the best triangulation car- 

 ried out in other countries. Mr, Brooks' work on the 

 survey also embraced astronomical observations for the 

 determination of latitude and azimuth at a number of 

 selected stations. He likewise determined, by transmission 

 of electro-telegraphic signals, the differences of longi- 

 tude between Sydney Observatory and some thirty stations 

 distributed over the State, at which stations the latitude 

 was also observed astronomically. These stations formed 

 the basis for construction of reliable maps of the State in 

 advance of the triangulation to which some of them have 

 since been connected. Mr. Brooks also took a large share 

 in the observations for the triangulation of the cities of 

 Sydney, Newcastle, and Bathurst. He was a born observer 

 with considerable mechanical ability, which enabled him 

 to use his instruments to the best advantage. 



Sir William Orookes, Kt., o.m., ll.d., d.Sc, f.r.s., a 

 former President of the Royal Society of London, died on 

 April 4th, 1919. By his death this Society loses from its 

 list of Honorary Members one of the most famous names, 

 for it is given to few, as it was to him, to make, in new 

 directions, discoveries of striking importance in both physics 



