468 



Report of the Kew Committee. 



has been made use of since their departure by the assistants engaged in 

 the verification of thermometers, Messrs. Foster and Gunter. 



The floor of the Computing-room has been covered with linoleum. 



The exterior of the "Workshops has been painted, and the roofs of the 

 Verification-house and Magnetic Observatory have been made water- 

 tight. 



A gravelled path has been cut across the lawn, for giving more con- 

 venient access to the Bain-gauges and Magnetic house. 



Owing to the giving way of part of the embankment separating the 

 Biver Thames from the Old Deer Park, on the morning of January 2nd, 

 the basement of the Observatory was again flooded, the water rising to an 

 extent higher than has been previously experienced, covering the floors of 

 the Magnetograph-, Photographic-, and Pendulum-rooms to a depth of 

 three or four inches. By laying down planked ways, the instruments 

 were maintained in action, and no interruption was experienced in the 

 work of the Observatory. The water was withdrawn from the building 

 by the aid of a fire-engine, which, with a gang of labourers, was sent by 

 the Commissioners of Woods and Forests for the purpose. 



Staff. — The Staff employed at Kew are as follows : — Mr. G. M. 

 Whipple, B.Sc, Superintendent ; T. W. Baker, First Assistant ; J. W. 

 Hawkesworth, J.Foster, H. M'Laughlin, F. G. Figg, E. W. F.Harrison, 

 E. G. Constable, T. Gunter, C. Bobinson, and J. Dawson. 



Mr. E. G. Aldridge, having accepted an appointment at the Meteorolo- 

 gical Office, left the Observatory in December. 



Visitors. — The Observatory has been honoured by the presence, among 

 others, of : — 



Prof. W. G. Adams, F.E.S. 



Sir John Alleyne. 



Prof. Bogrul. 



Mons. Egroff. 



Mr. G. T. Kingston. 



Dr. Koppen. 



Prof. Marie Davy. 



Prof. Mascart. 



Mons. Salleron. 



Prof. H. J. S. Smith, F.E. 



Baron van der Heerdt. 



Prof. Zeyers. 



The Committee have received from Sir Edward Sabine a large portion 

 of his books relating to Physical Science, as a donation to the Library 

 of the Kew Observatory, and have sent to their Chairman an expression 

 of their high appreciation of the interest which by this gift he continues 

 to evince in this institution, over which he has presided for so many 

 vears. 



