H.—34.

Library. Steps are being taken to build up a library of reference for the research and scientific workers of the Dominion. This library will then serve as a clearing-house for the dissemination of all recent scientific publications. Bureau of Information. Numerous inquiries have been received on a wide range of topics of scientific interest, and others having a bearing on industrial problems. Useful assistance had been rendered to many inquirers by this means. REPORT OF THE DOMINION ASTRONOMER AND SEISMOLOGIST. Buildings and Equipment. The buildings and equipment have been kept in good order, and the storage batteries have been regularly charged. The Observatory grounds are kept in order by the Wellington City Corporation. Four office rooms have been built adjoining the present building and to the west of it. The foundations of the old Garden battery have been, used for the new buildings. A separate boiler-house has been built a little to the north of the building, and in this an " Ideal " boiler has been installed. A hotwater heating-system supplying three hot-water radiators in the cellar and five in the offices and passage has also been installed. The additional accommodation allows the staff to work in daylight for the first time, with a consequent reduction in the cost of electric lighting. The rooms have been partly furnished, and one stack of British steel shelving has been fitted. Orders for more steel shelving are in hand. The hot-water heating-system has been satisfactory in heating the cellar and stopping the damage to records and instruments previously' experienced by the excessive dampness. The new building has also prevented leakage in the cellar. The out-buildings have been repaired and painted. The south aerial mast was moved some distance to the south-west with the object of improving the reception of long-wave time signals. Astronomy. Astronomical Observations. Observations of the meridian transits of the stars and of the sun have been made for the purpose of controlling the time service. During the year the sun was observed 125 times, and stars 128 times. Reception of Radio Time Signals at the Observatory. The following radio time signals were received at the Observatory : Mean-time signals from Honolulu, 135 ; Malabar, Java, 236 ; Nauen, 179 ; Bordeaux, 49 ; Kavite, 15 ; and Annapolis, 3. Scientific time signals were also received at the Observatory as follows : Nauen, 116 ; Bordeaux, 29 ; Honolulu, 16 ; Saigon, 8 ; and Annapolis, 4. The radio time signals received at the Observatory generally agreed with the Observatory clock within one second of time. Greater differences, however, have been observed in the following cases : —

The Observatory is indebted to the Bureau Internationale de l'Heure, Paris, and to the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, for the corrections to the radio time signals sent out by the French and American observatories. Beginning with Ist January, 1926, the Saigon time signal, which previously was received at the Observatory at 9.0 a.m., is now sent earlier and reaches Wellington at 6.30 a.m. This early hour makes it impracticable for the Observatory to make any use of the signal. Time Service. The time service has been maintained, and the regular signals have been sent out. The signals have been transmitted daily. The total number of time signals sent from the Observatory was 1,621 : of these, 457 were sent by wireless telegraph, 672 were sent by special circuit to the Telegraph-

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Differences from Observatory Clock. From From From From From Over 1 to 2 sees. 2 to 3 sees. 3 to 4 sees. 4 to 5 sees. 5 to 6 sees. 6 sees. . ■ ] .■ . I ' ■ 1 - ■ 1 Honolulu (NPM) .. 19 4 2 2 3* Malabar (PKX) .. .. 18 2 1 Nauen (POZ) .. . . 17 3 Bordeaux (LY) .. .. 5 1 1 Annapolis (NSS) .. .. 1 .. .. | Kavite (NPO) .. .. 4 .. .. I * NPM 11-67 sees, fast, 28th April, 1926.