Report of the Kew Committee. 



467 



with the pendulum apparatus, it was not re-erected at Kew, nor base 

 operations repeated. 



Instruction given. — One assistant from the Standards Department 

 received instruction in the manipulation of thermometers, and Dr. Taaffe 

 in the use of meteorological instruments. 



Waxed Paper supplied. — "Waxed paper has been supplied to the fol- 

 lowing Observatories : — 



Armagh, Mauritius, 



Eatavia, San Fernando, 



Bombay, Stonyhurst, 



Lisbon, St. Petersburg, 

 and the Meteorological Office. 



A supply of chemical and photographic material has also been procured 

 for the Mauritius Observatory. 



Loan Exhibition. — The old instruments lent to the Science and Art 

 Department, enumerated in last year's Report, remain for the present 

 deposited in the galleries at South Kensington. 



A " Diplome d'honneur" has been presented to the Committee by the 

 Societe Erancaise de Photographic for the curves exhibited at their recent 

 exhibition of objects illustrating the adaptation of photography to scien- 

 tific purposes. 



Workshop.— -The several pieces of Mechanical Apparatus, such as the 

 "Whitworth Lathe and the Planing Machine, procured by Grants from 

 either the Grovernment-Grant Fund or the Donation Fund, for the use 

 of the Kew Observatory, have been kept in thorough order ; and many 

 of them are in constant, and others in occasional use at the Observatory; 

 but the funds of the Committee do not at present allow of the employ- 

 ment of a Mechanical Assistant, although one is much needed. 



Library. — During the year the Library has received as presents the 

 publications of 



10 English Scientific Societies and Institutions, 



40 Foreign and Colonial Scientific Societies and Institutions, 



and numerous pamphlets from various individuals. A few standard 

 works of reference have been purchased, and a number of periodicals 

 bound. 



The Committee have also purchased the small Scientific Library belong- 

 ing to the late Mr. John Welsh, F.E.S., formerly Superintendent of the 

 Observatory, which has been for some years stored in the building. 



Observatory and Grounds. — For the protection of the Observatory 

 against fire, a portable hand-pump and two dozen fire-buckets have been 

 purchased, the latter being distributed throughout the building. 



The room formerly occupied by the Sergeants of the " Magnetic Office" 



