326 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
a wide range of uncertainty. But, as observed at Dunedin, the 
specially favourable circumstances of the zzternal contact were, 
in the case of the external, wanting. The sun was less obscured, 
his disc was considerably agitated, and the: moment of the dis- 
appearance of the dark depression on the sun’s disc, caused by 
the emerging planet, was not easily fixed amid the fluctuations 
(the “ boiling”) of the sun’s limb. 
The times of the contacts it is not easy, with perfect accuracy, 
to give. Unless the errors of the various instruments for indi- 
cating the time are accurately known, the mention of seconds is 
delusive. And as I am not in possession of full information on 
this subject, I think it best to forbear the giving of times, whose 
seeming accuracy—from incompleteness of statement—could 
only mislead. Mr Beverley states the times of contact approxi- 
mately (that is, as I understand him, to the nearest minute only) 
as being—internal, 7h. 31m.; external, 7h. 51m., New Zealand 
mean time, 
THOMAS ROSEBY. 
CLYDE. 
This station was chosen on account of its being situated in 
the centre of the widest extent of land in New Zealand, and 
having almost a continental climate. Rain rarely falls, and a 
bright still atmosphere is almost invariably experienced at early 
morning. It was one of the few places in New Zealand that 
enjoyed a clear sky throughout the whole day of the last transit 
in 1874. It is also conveniently circumstanced as regards the 
telegraph system, being the junction point of two separate lines 
by which communication could be maintained with Burnham 
observatory. 
Clyde is 150 miles from the coast, on the Molyneux river, 
and 600 feet above the sea level. - 
A favourable site was chosen for the observing station on a 
terrace 100ft. above the river, and 300 yards from the telegraph 
office, with which it was connected by double wires. A level 
plain extends for 7 miles to the eastward, the highest hills in 
the direction of the sun’s bearing at the time of the transit only 
subtending an angle of 2% degrees. The use of an iron hut 
was obtained, in which the telegraphic and recording apparatus 
was arranged, and in front of which the observing tent was 
erected. The packages containing all the required appliances 
were taken up country from Palmerston in a spring dray, and 
reached their destination without the slightest mishap on the 
20th November, being the eighth day from Wellington. By the 
22nd all fittings had been completed, and on the 24th the 
first of a series of time signals were exchanged with Burnham. 
The telescope used is the property of Mr. G. V. Shannon, of 
Wellington, who kindly lent it for the occasion. It is a 5 inch 
reflector, of 6ft. 4in. in length, by Cook, of York. It is mounted 
