Report of the Kew Committee. 



89 



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 allow of the 

 employment of a mechanical assistant, although one is much needed. 



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

 publications of 



13 English Scientific Societies and Institutions, and 



72 Foreign and Colonial Scientific Societies and Institutions. 



Ventilation Experiments. — The experiments on the ventilating power 

 of cowls of different form by the Sub- Committee of the Sanitary 

 Institute of Great Britain are still in progress in the wooden hut 

 erected by the Institute near the Observatory, the experimental house 

 lent by the Committee having been required for the testing of Mag- 

 netographs and other purposes. 



Observatory and Grounds. — The buildings and grounds have been 

 kept in repair throughout the year, and the exterior woodwork has 

 been painted by the Board of Works. 



The basement of the building having been again flooded, a drain 

 has been laid across the park to the riverside to allow of flood-waters 

 flowing directly into the river instead of requiring to be pumped out 

 as has hitherto been necessary. 



The roofs of the Verification House and Magnetic Observatory have 

 been entirely re-covered with felt, and new gutters fitted, &c. 



No action having been taken by the Commissioners of "Woods and 

 Forests with respect to the footpath across the park, its temporary 

 repair has, however, been carried on at the expense of the Committee. 



Peesonal Establishment. 



The staff employed is as follows : — 



G. M. Whipple, B.Sc, Superintendent. 

 T. W. Baker, First Assistant. 



J. Foster, Verification Department. 



H. McLaughlin, Librarian and Accountant. 

 F. G. Figg, Magnetic Observer. 



E. G. Constable, Solar Observations and Tabulation of 

 Meteorological Curves. 



T. Gunter) y er ^ ca ^ on Department. 



C. Taylor) * 



W. Boxall, Photography. 



E. Dagwell, Office duties. 



J. Dawson, Messenger and Care-taker. 



J. W. Hawkesworth, H. Clements, and A. Dawson have resigned 

 their appointments during the year. 



