348 



Report of the Kew Observatory Committee. 



for the B certificate has been very small indeed for some years past, 

 the question of the retention of the class B trial seems to require con- 

 sideration. 



The electrical contact-piece of the mean-time clock " French " failed 

 in its action frequently in the early part of the year. This was found 

 to be mainly due to the unequal wearing of the teeth of the old escape 

 wheel. The clock was sent to Messrs. Dent, who fitted a new escape 

 wheel, &c., and its general performance since has been much more 

 satisfactory. 



VII. Miscellaneous. 



Commissions. — The work under this heading has been of a very 

 varied character during the year. The following instruments have 

 been procured, examined, and forwarded to the various Observatories 

 •on whose behalf they were purchased : — 



1 dip circle and 4 extra needles for St. Petersburg. 



1 „ „ 1 pair „ Toronto. 



2 pairs dip needles for Upsala. 



1 pair „ „ Mauritius. 



1 Kew pattern self-recording Eobinson anemometer and sheets, and 



1 pocket aneroid for St. Petersburg. 



2 Kew standard thermometers and a barograph tabulator for Colaba 



(Bombay). 



A standard Fortin barometer, an astronomical globe, maximum and 

 minimum thermometers, and an ozone cage for Mauritius. 



Anemograph sheets, sunshine cards, and rain-gauge forms have been 

 .sent to Hong Kong and Mauritius ; prepared photographic paper to 

 Batavia, Aberdeen, Fort William, and Valencia, for the Meteorological 

 Office ; and to Hong Kong, Mauiitius, Toronto, and Lisbon. 



Gas Thermometer. — The instrument referred to in last year's ' Report ' 

 arrived at the Observatory in February. Prior to its receipt. Dr. J. A. 

 Harker went over to Germany and was shown the methods of using 

 the gas thermometer adopted at the Reichsanstalt, Charlottenburg. 

 The Committee are much indebted to Dr. Kohlrausch and other 

 authorities of the Reichsanstalt for the courtesy shown by them on 

 this occasion. The cost of the instrument, including its carriage and 

 Dr. Harker 's expenses at Berlin, was borne by Sir A. Noble, who also 

 kindly expressed his willingness to pay for the auxiliary appliances 

 required in gas thermometry. Owing to the want of a suitable 

 building in which to erect the gas thermometer, the Committee were 

 unable to take full advantage of Sir Andrew's generous off'er for the 

 immediate present, and they have been obliged to leave it to their 

 -successors, the Executive Committee of the National Physical Labora- 



