H.—3o

4

fell from 302 on the 29th December to 29'50 on the Ist January; at Cape Borda, it fell from 30'23 on the 30th December to 29-53 at midnight on the Ist January; at Cape Northumberland, it fell from 30'2 on the morning of the 30th December to 29'35 at six p.m. on the 2nd January, or six hours after Cape Borda; and the barometer fell to 29'30 at Hobart Town in the afternoon of the 2nd January, or about twenty-four hours after passing the Great Bight. The storm between the Great Bight and Hobart Town was probably identical with, or the subsequent effect of, the hurricane on the north-west coast, in which case it must have had a slow progressive motion over the Australian Continent, between the north-west coast and the Australian Bight, emerging from the coast at about the Great Bight, and occupying twenty-four hours in passing from the Great Bight to Hobart Town. The resolution was then agreed to. 5. Weather Telegrams. —To consider by what means the weather telegrams may be transmitted and published for public information at an earlier hour than they are at present. The Chairman said the idea which was present to his mind in submitting this proposition was to suggest that the weather telegrams should, in Australasia, as in Europe, take precedence of all other telegrams. This arrangement would not add in any appreciable respect to the time occupied in transmission, and the delay of five or six minutes caused by sending these messages first could not be any serious detriment to business. He thought it probable that, if the matter were represented by the Conference to the several Governments, the general principle would be adopted, and weather telegrams would take precedence of all other messages, Government telegrams of course excepted. Mr. Todd entirely concurred with the Chairman in thinking it highly desirable that weather telegrams should have the precedence, and he saw no practical difficulty in giving effect to the resolution. No doubt the hour which had been agreed to —9 o'clock —might appear at first sight to clash with the ordinary routine business at the telegraph offices; but as a matter of fact, with the exception of the transmission of messages from the different stations to the central office at 9 o'clock, there would be no reports sent at that hour. It would probably be 11 o'clock before all these messages would be received at the central office. In his case it was generally a quarter-past 10 before he could send any weather reports to the other colonies. In the case of Western Australia it was still later, on account of the difference in longitude. So that the sending of these weather reports would not really clash with the office reports, and there was no reason why they should not be transmitted immediately, and take precedence of all private messages. He thought it only required to be properly represented to the different Governments, so that the Telegraphic Departments might be instructed that the weather reports were to take precedence, and the Telegraph Superintendents in the different colonies be relieved from any responsibility in the matter. It should be borne in mind that by the adoption of the cypher code the messages were reduced to the minimum in point of length. He would now move, " That the several Governments be requested to cause precedence to be given to the regular weather telegrams and special storm reports." Dr. Hector said that in New Zealand they had three kinds of telegrams— urgent, ordinary, and delayed. The public could take advantage of this scale, and by paying 2s. could make a telegram urgent. Messages arriving in the evening could be sent as delayed telegrams in sufficient time for the morning post. Mr. Ellery said the value of weather information was lost in many cases by delay, while it was increased in proportion to the punctuality with which it was furnished. He might state that in his last annual report he had made reference to the procedure in America and several European States who had at first to be coaxed into allowing weather telegrams to take precedence, but they now generally accorded it. Weather telegrams were of no value to the shipping and commercial interest unless they were transmitted punctually In Victoria the Chief Secretary had entered into correspondence with the Telegraph Department of that colony on the subject, and precedence had always been accorded. He thought it would only be necessary to bring the matter before the several Colonial Governments. The only difficulty would lie with the Telegraph Departments themselves. The resolution was agreed to. (i. Mountain Stations. —To consider whether meteorological stations should be established upon the highest available mountains, for the special study of winds. The Chairman said his object in putting this proposition before the Conference was to obtain if possible records of the winds that pass over-head, and were therefore lost to the records of the lower stations. From observations made years ago by Strzelecki, it appeared that at the top of Mount Wellington he had noticed a hot wind which was not felt at all 3,000 feet lower on the same mountain ; and, from similar observations in this colony, it appeared that hot winds were frequently felt at the high stations and not at those which are at a lower level. Similar facts might be stated with regard to the south-east gales, which frequently appeared first at lofty stations. He thought these facts were a sufficient reason for the establishment of stations on high mouutain-peaks—the only means which appeared to him available to secure the desired information. Mr. Ellery moved, "That, in the opinion of this Conference, there should be established in each of the colonies, upon a high mountain-peak, a meteorological observatory for the special study of winds and other meteorological, phenomena; and that the most desirable positions for them would be the following: — About " South Australia —Mount Lofty 2,500 feet above the sea level. New South Wales—Kiandra .. 4,600 feet above the sea level. New Zealand —Tauhara, Taupo 4,600 feet above the sea level. New Zealand—Mount Herbert .. 4,000 feet above the sea level. Tasmania —Mount Wellington. 4,000 feet above the sea level. Victoria —Mount Macedon 3,500 feet above the sea level." The resolution, after discussion, was agreed to. The Conference adjourned at 1.15 p.m., until to-morrow, Friday, 14th instant, at 9 o'clock a.m.