5

H.—Boa

14. Under Eesolution IX.: It was reported that the Government of New Zealand had agreed to bear, for the present, the cost of any necessary cablegrams, but desired, before bringing the matter before Parliament, that the Conference should express more clearly what they consider to be the particular value of those cablegrams, and what their probable cost, and what arrangements in regard to payment are suggested to give effect to the recommendation. 15. Under Eesolution XL : All weather warnings and the reports from stations are forwarded with the greatest celerity, and no difficulty is experienced in New Zealand from delay of weather telegrams, a result largely due to the interest which the Superintendent of Telegraphs, Dr Lemon, takes in the subject. 16. Under Eesolution XII. No steps have been taken to get a high-level station. The establishment is not at present able to cope with this work, and it is doubtful whether for some time to come a vote can be got to make it so. Observations are, however, taken at Taupo, at an altitude of 1,200 feet, in the centre of the North Island, and Bealey (2,140) iu the centre of the South Island. 17 Under Eesolution XIII.: The present agreement with Mr. Eussell is that cablegrams shall be sent only for any remarkable phases of weather in New Zealand, and that they shall indicate excessive pressure or abnormal differences in pressure within the New Zealand area. 18. Under Eesolution XIV : A form of diagram was submitted, in which the meteorological statistics have for some years been displayed at the Wellington Station, and in which they are to be communicated to Sydney, from the beginning of the present year, from Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin. 19. Under Eesolution XVI.: The classification and grouping of the weather reports has been strictly adapted to this recommendation, but, in practice, the arrangement is not found to be the most convenient, so that the definition of the aspects may probably be revised with advantage. 20. Under Eesolution XVTII. : The requirements of this resolution have been met with respect to New Zealand, and a synoptical report of the weather generally for the colony is published in the evening papers each day 21. Under Eesolution XXV : Several tide gauges have been procured, but at present they are utilized for the local requirements of Haroour Boards, ami are not yet available for general investigations such as are contemplated by the Conference. 22. It was arranged that data should be obtained from Sydney, Adelaide, New Zealand, and Melbourne for the mouths of January, February, and March, with a view of testing the applicability to Australia of the system of weather forecasts adopted in the Northern Hemisphere. The Conference adjourned to to-morrow at 10 o'clock a.m.

Feidat, 22nd April, 1881. The Conference met at the Observatory at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Ellery (Chairman), Dr. Hector, Mr. Eussell, and Mr. Todd. 23. Eesolved, —XXVIII. That the paragraphs of the report shall be numbered with consecutive Arabic numerals. 24. Eesolved, —XXIX. That the resolutions and important points shall be numbered consecutively with Eoman numerals. Report by Mr. Russell. 25. Mr. Eussell reported, in accordance with Eesolution XXVII., as follows :—Under Eesolution 11. : Had extended the range of the weather map by taking in new stations established in agreement with report; had published daily a barometer curve including all the coast stations, as this was a method which appeared to convey to the public better than could be done by figures the passage of barometric depressions. He desired to call the attention of the members of the Conference to the fact that this curve pointed to the insufficiency of the present telegrams because they did not give turningpoints of the barometer; hence some depressions appeared to pass from Eucla in two days, and others in one day This, no doubt, was owing to the fact that the 9 a.m. observations were taken to represent the turning-points. He submitted copies of the weather map printed daily at Sydney and distributed gratis. 26. Under Eesolution III.: Additional stations (first-class) have been established at Kiandra, Menindie, Hay, and Wollongong, making altogether 29 in New South Wales (see list in Appendix No. 1) ; besides these, reports were received from 9 first-class private stations, from 72 thermometer and rain stations, and from 100 rain stations, making the total 210 stations. 27 Under Eesolution VII.: Had been unable to secure active co-operation from the Government of Queensland in the weather system. 28. Under Eesolution VIII.: Had continued to make the same observations serve for weathersignal purposes and statistics. 29. Under Eesolution IX.: Submitted a letter from the Superintendent of the New Zealand cable, showing the liberal rates at which the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company are prepared to transmit weather telegrams. He was authorized to say that the Government of New South Wales would share the cost of the proposed weather cablegrams to the extent of £75 per annum, which was probably more than would be required. 30. Under Eesolution XII.: A mountain station has been established on Kiandra, 4,600 feet above sea. 31. Under Eesolution XVIII.: Had regularly sent, but had not received, synoptical reports. 32. Under Eesolutions XXII. and XXIII. : These resolutions had been conformed to. 33. Mr. Ellery, referring to the letter read by Mr Eussell (cf. par. 29), remarked that in 1877 he received a letter from the Superintendent of the Tasmanian cable, stating that cable messages from Tasmania would be transmitted at half the ordinary rate, inclusive of the address and signature. In 1880 he had asked that this concession might be extended, and had received a reply to the effect that, if more than one message was required each way daily ,f an endeavour would be made to induce the directors to extend the concession to a second message.