1886 .] 
Chairmans Address . 
15 
It is only a few months ago that an inquiry, conducted on 
scientific principles, into the hearing of the observations at the 
Observatory and at the base of the mountain could he entered upon, 
and its completion will necessarily occupy some time, owing to the 
complex character of the problems to he dealt with. 
The erection and maintenance of the Observatory during the past 
three years have cost over <£7000, the funds having been obtained 
solely from private subscriptions and learned Societies. During 
this time the Directors have had to pay to the post office depart- 
ment a rental of <£133 per annum for the use of the telegraph 
wire from Fort William to the top of the mountain. In addition 
to' this, the post office have received considerably over £100 for 
tourist messages forwarded from the Observatory by Mr Omond and 
his assistants. The daily despatch of the observations to the press 
throughout the country is also a source of considerable income to 
the post offi ;e department. It appears then that this Observatory, 
established solely for the purposes of scientific investigation, instead 
of being assisted by the Government, is actually a source of revenue 
to a Government department. 
You are aware that a sum of £15,000 is voted annually by 
Parliament for general meteorological purposes, but more particu- 
larly the meteorology of the British Islands. This grant is admini- 
stered by a committee nominated by the Royal Society of London, 
called the Meteorological Council. Although Ben Nevis Observatory 
is certainly the best and most important meteorological observatory 
in the United Kingdom, yet it has received no support from this 
grant, if we except the annual sum of £100 which is paid on 
condition of being supplied with a complete set of all the observa- 
tions, — a bare equivalent for the mere clerk work required. In 
1884 an application for £300, from the £15,000 grant, towards 
the expenses of the Observatory was refused. 
The Meteorological Council also intimated to the Directors that 
they did not propose to have the observations at Ben Nevis wired 
to London for use in making up the weather forecasts, until the 
result of Mr Buchan’s discussion of the observations was completed; 
but they offered no assistance towards carrying out that discussion, 
although £1000 of the £15,300 is expressly stated to be for the 
purposes of original investigation 
