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INSTRUMENTS, ETC., 1896. 



Barometers. — Nos. 1385 and 1252. The former has 

 been exclusively used for observations during the year, 

 the latter being held as a reserve instrument. During 

 the very high pressure in January, a set of comparison 

 readings were made of these barometers. 



On December 18th, the barometer (No. 1864 by 

 Casella) was brought up from the Mid-Station, and 

 since then comparision readings have been made of this 

 and No. 1385. It has been found that accurate com- 

 parison can only be made when the weather is calm or 

 almost so, owing to the pumping action caused by even 

 light wind. So far as comparison has been made (32 

 good observations), the residual difference between the two 

 barometers (1385-1864) comes out 0-002 inch, No. 1385 

 reading the lower by that amount. 



Richards' Self-registering Aneroid has been in use, and is 

 in good working order. 



Thermometers. — Dry bulbs 535541 and 192677 with wet 

 bulbs 535542 and 192672 were in use, and dry 861089 

 with wet 861090 were held as a reserve set until they 

 were sent down to the Mid-Station in August. 



From June 10th to October 12th the large Stevenson 

 Screen was in use, and during the rest of the year the 

 small boxes on ladder-stand No. 2. 



In stormy weather the Tower Screen has been in 

 occasional use. 



Max. 117293 and Min. 116918 were used in the large 

 screen, and Mins. 138545 and 1108531A in the small 

 screens. No. 138545 was broken on Nov. 25th and since 

 then No. 1108531 has been in continuous use. 



Black Bulb No. 186 has been in use chiefly in summer, 

 or on fine days with temperature above 32°. 



The Sunshine Records have been got from Campbell- 

 Stokes Sunshine Recorder. 



Robinson's Cup-Anemometer was in use in the summer 

 and autumn, except during the time its connecting rod 

 was under repair. 



July 5 to 28th. — The hand anemometer was in 

 occasional use — chiefly in high winds. 



The Anemograph Clock continues the Standard Time 

 Clock for Observatory. 



The Rainband has been observed daily with the small 

 pocket Spectroscope. 



The depth of snow was measured at post A till 

 November, when it broke ; and since then, at the temporary 

 post near the large Stevenson Screen. 



During the year, the Dust Counter has been out of 

 repair; and the Camera has been mostly at the Low- 

 Level Observatory. There has been no break in the 

 routine of hourly observation. Now and again an 

 observation was made a few minutes late, and in stormy 

 weather the rainfall records were incomplete owing to 

 drift, etc. "When too stormy to go to thermometer box, 

 the readings of temperature were taken from the 

 thermometer in Tower Screen. 



The telegraph cable and instrument have worked fairly 

 well during the year. 



In August the hut at the Lake, 2190 feet in height, was 

 enlarged and made into an Observing Station. Observa- 

 tions were made there during part of August and September. 



