H.—l6

4

telescope, and a clock or chronometer referred to the local transit clock. Larger telescopes will be very valuable—the standard being taken as 6-inch telescopes. 6. As there is usually greater delay in procuring instruments than in making any other arrangements, I would suggest that the attention of colonial residents be immediately called to the necessity of hastening this provision. I have, &c, H. T. Holland, Esq. G. B. Aiby.

No. 5. Governor Sir G. F. Bowen to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimbeelet. My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, New Zealand, 17th October, 1872. 1. Adverting to your Lordship's despatch No. 12, of the 23rd February ultimo, and to the accompanying letter from the Astronomer Eoyal, upon the subject of the arrangements for the observation of the transit of Venus in 1874,1 am now requested by my responsible Advisers to forward the enclosed Ministerial memorandum. 2. It will be perceived that the Government of New Zealand will gladly assist the arrangements of the Astronomer Eoyal, by the erection of the huts required for the instruments to be used at Christchurch, mentioned in Professor Airy's letter to Mr. Holland, of the 19th February, 1872, provided that plans and specifications of the huts required be sent out in good time, seeing that there are no means of ascertaining in the colony exactly what is required. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. F. Bowen.

Enclosure in No. 5. * • Memorandum by Mr. Wateehotjse. Befeebing to the enclosure in despatch No. 12, of the 23rd February, 1872, from the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, upon the subject of the arrangements for the observation of the transit of Venus in 1874, Mr. Waterhouse has the honor to inform His Excellency that the Governmei t will gladly assist the arrangements of the Astronomer Eoyal, by the erection of the huts required for the instruments to be used at Christchurch, mentioned in Professor Airy's letter to Mr. Holland, of the 19th February, 1872, provided that plans and specifications of the huts required be sent out in good time, seeing that there are no means of ascertaining in the colony exactly what is required. Wellington, 16th October, 1872. G. M. Wateehotjse.

No. 6. Memoeaitdtjm: for the Hon. Mr. Gisboene. It will take some time to find out the cost of the instruments required, also what supply of them ia available in the colony, or likely to be at that date, also to ascertain if amateur observers will be available. I do not think that the New Zealand Government would be justified in going to much expense for a single observation, but in connection with the establishment of one or more permanent local observatories in the colony, such instruments might be obtained. Chronometers can easily be had. Of telescopes, the only one belonging to the General Government is at the Observatory in Wellington, but I think any of the following persons might be induced to furnish such instruments :— Archdeacon Stock, Wellington; Mr. Karkeek, Wairarapa; Mr. Heal, Auckland, and Mr. J. S. Thomson, Dunedin. These gentlemen would require to be communicated with; but in the event of the proposed observatory at Christchurch being established, would it not be better to leave such arrangements for future consideration. It does not appear necessary to intimate the action of Government respecting the additional stations, to the Astronomer Eoyal, and all that is required at present in reply to this despatch, is to state whether Government will assist the arrangements of the Astronomer Eoyal by the erection of the huts for the instruments to be used at Christchurch. James Hectoe. 3rd May, 1872.

No. 7. Mr. J. G. White to the Hon. the Colonial Secretaey. Sib,— U.S. Consulate at Auckland, 18th October, 1872. I beg the honor to address you in respect to a letter addressed to me by Eear-Admiral B. F. Sands, Superintendent of the United States Naval Observatory at Washington, U.S.A., the purpose of which is, that this institution is about to make arrangements for sending out some of its officers to occupy stations to be selected in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, for the purpose of observing the transit of Venus in December, 1874. They, with other astronomers and scientific gentlemen, will form several parties.