454 



Report of the Kew Committee. 



Bombay, Mauritius, Montsouris, San Fernando, and four Observa- 

 tories of the Meteorological Council. 



Anemograph sheets have also been sent to the Mauritius Observatory, 

 and blank forms for the entry of magnetic observations to the Horton 

 Observatory, the Bureau of Navigation, Washington, and the Owens 

 College. 



Loan Exhibition. — With the exception of the Hodgkinsons Actino- 

 meter and the three instruments mentioned in last year's report, the 

 instruments specified in the Report for 1876 . still remain in charge of 

 the Science and Art Department, South Kensington. 



Anemometer Testing. — The Committee have had before them the ques- 

 tion of the desirability of erecting a suitable apparatus for the testing 

 of Anemometers and Air-meters ; but in the opinion of Dr. Robinson 

 it will be better to postpone its erection for a time. 



Mauritius Observatory. — The Earl of Carnarvon, Secretary of State 

 for the Colonies, having requested the Committee to nominate a 

 suitable person to the appointment of First Assistant at the Royal 

 Alfred Observatory, Mauritius, they eventually selected Mr. Herbert 

 Irving Bell, Laureate of the Royal College of Mauritius in 1875, from 

 amongst a number of candidates. 



The Crown Agents having approved of their choice, Mr. Bell went 

 through a course of training in observatory work, both at the Kew 

 Observatory and at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, before he 

 sailed for Mauritius on October 6th. 



WorhsJi op. — The several pieces of Mechanical Apparatus, such as 

 the Whitworth Lathe and Planing Machine, procured by Grants 

 from either the Government Grant Funds 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 employment of a mechanical assistant, although one is much 

 needed. 



IAbrary. — During the y year the Library has received, as presents, the 

 publications of 



11 English Scientific Societies and Institutions, 

 46 Foreign and Colonial Scientific Societies and Institutions. 

 A large number of scientific works have also been presented to the 

 Library by General Sir E. Sabine, and duplicate copies of works 

 already in the Observatory have been presented to 



Dr. Hinrichs. 

 Professor Karlinski. 

 The Observatory, Pekin. 

 Mr. Rundell. 



The Society of Telegraph Engineers. 



