98 



Report of the Kew Committee- 



that a new survey is now desirable, they have requested the Hydro- 

 grapher (Sir F. Evans), Professors W. Or. Adams and Gr. Carey Foster 

 to act as a sub-committee with a view of recommending the course to 

 be adopted for the carrying out of the survey. 



A number of instruments of interest were exhibited at the Fourth 

 Annual Exhibition of the Royal Meteorological Society, which was 

 devoted to meteorological instruments used by explorers and 

 travellers, held in the rooms of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 

 March last. 



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

 publications of — 



27 English Scientific Societies and Institutions, and 



88 Foreign and Colonial Scientific Societies and Institutions. 



153 Volumes of duplicates of works on Astronomy, Terrestrial 

 Magnetism, and Meteorology, have been presented to the Library of 

 the newly established Observatory at Hong Kong. 



Observatory and Grounds. — The buildings and grounds have been 

 kept in order throughout the year. A new staircase leading from 

 the ground to the first floor has been constructed ; a new chimney 

 fitted to the barometer-room stove, and the exterior of the building 

 maintained in repair by Her Majesty's Commissioners of Works, &c. 



A temporary vestibule has been put up in the Entrance Hall. 



Owing to the giving way of a gas-pipe support attached to the 

 Electrograph, the building narrowly escaped being set on fire on the 

 night of March 9th ; the housekeeper fortunately being near at the 

 time, the fire was extinguished without damage being done. Steps 

 have been taken to prevent a recurrence of the accident. 



Personal Establishment. 

 The staff employed is as follows : — 



Gr. M. Whipple, B.Sc, Superintendent. 



T. W. Baker, Chief Assistant and Magnetic Observer. 



J. Foster, Verification Department. 



H. McLaughlin, Librarian and Accountant. 



E. Gr. Constable, Solar Observations and Tabulation of 



Meteorological Curves. 

 T. Gunter, Verification Department. 

 W. Boxall, Photography. 

 E. Dagwell, Office duties. 



E. Coates ) Verification Department. 



C.Henley) r 



M. Baker, Messenger and Care-taker. 



During the Spring, Mr. Whipple met with an accident which 



