H.—33

2

Colonial Time-ball Obsbkvatokt. Mr. Thomas King, the officer in charge, reports as follows: " The work of the time service has proceeded as usual. Eegular observations for the determination of clock-error have been taken, and exact time has been distributed throughout the colony as heretofore. The clocks have maintained very good rates. The time-ball at Wellington has been dropped daily (Sundays excepted), and galvanometer signals have been sent hourly from the Observatory in the manner described in previous reports. During the stay of the relief ship " Morning "at Lyttelton, prior to her start for the antarctic regions, signals were frequently transmitted to her by special telegraph-wire direct from the Observatory to the officers' cabin, and the vessel was thus enabled to rate her chronometers accurately for some days before the beginning of her important voyage. The value llh. 39m. 5-3s. E. has, since the beginning of 1903, been assumed as the longitude of the Observatory in computing time. This longitude has, of course, been for very many years recognised as the correct one ; but owing to the fact that the old value—viz., llh. 39m. 9-3s. E.—was retained on the Admiralty charts it was not deemed wise to employ the amended longitude for the purposes of the time service, as the advantage from a navigator's point of view of having a value in harmony with the one shown on the charts was obvious. The Admiralty, however, has at last found it practicable to adopt the true longtitude in one or two of its harbour-charts ; and, although in view of the smallness of the error involved and of the expense of regraduating a large series of charts the Admiralty has no present intention of amending the majority of the coastal charts, this partial recognition of the corrected longitude has opened the way for a reconsideration of the matter, and, after submission of the point to the Hydrographer to the Admiralty, the value llh. 39m. 5-3s. has, with that official's entire concurrence, been adopted as the one for use in calculations necessary for time-determination. The whole question is discussed at length in a paper which I had the honour of reading before the Wellington Philosophical Society on the 18th March, 1903 (' On the Longitude of the Colonial Observatory, &c.'), and I would respectfully ask reference to that paper for details of the whole subject." The balance-sheet, duly certified, is appended, and the schedules and correspondence will be published with the report in the usual pamphlet form. Approved. James Hectoe, Manager. Maetin Chapman, Chairman. 3rd July, 1903.

New Zealand Institute Accounts foe 1902-3. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance from last year .. .. .. 408 211 Printing Vol. XXXV. .. .. .. 482 11 6 Vote for 1902-3 .. .. .. .. 500 0 0 Exp-nses of library .. .. .. 20 0 0 Co itriuution from Wellington Philosophical Expenses, " Maori Art " .. .. .. 36 8 8 S jciety .. .. .. .. 17 10 0 Postages, foreign volumes.. .. .. 317 6 Sale of " Maori Art" .. .. .. 37 7 4 Expenses, International Catalogue.. .. 15 0 0 Sale of Transactions .. .. .. 110 Miscellaneous items .. .. .. 46 15 0 Balance .. .. .. .. .. 359 8 7 £964 1 3 £964 1 3 Examined and found correct. Maetin Chapman, 3rd July, 1903. Acting-Treasurer. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,375 copies), £1 2s.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o3. Price 3d.]