94 C. J. MERFIELD. 



During the years 1859-60-61, 1 the observed north polar 

 distances of certain Nautical Almanac stars were compared 

 with the tabular ones. The residuals obtained were 

 assumed to represent corrections to the latitude adopted 

 in the reduction of the observations. 



From the several volumes mentioned in the foregoing 

 paragraph, the following data have been deduced : 



Year. <f> No. of Observations. 



(June) 1859 - 33° 51' 41"10 



1859 - 33 51 40*87 280 



1860 - 33 51 41*27 316 



1861 - 33 51 41*61 164 



If the last three values are combined, according to the 

 number of observations, then the result is 



<t> = -33° 51' 41* '21 



The same result is obtained by a combination of the four 

 values giving to each an equal weight. 



Although the Rev. Mr. Scott, subsequent to the year 

 1861, adopted a value of the latitude (which is still 

 used) he seems to have been inclined to favour a value 

 numerically greater; his own observations confirm this view. 

 From the date 1861 to 1904 no further investigations have 

 been made into this question. The appended determination 

 is to be considered a provisional one, for reasons to be 

 noted in the paper previously cited. 



2. Observations and Methods. 



The observations, taken for the purpose of obtaining 

 values of the observed refractions by the method of equal 

 zenith distances, are available for a determination of the 



1 "Astronomical Observations made at Sydney Observatory, 1859-60-61," 

 by W. Scott, m.a. 



