H.—2B

4

Government Gazette requesting persons having in their possession books belonging to this Library, to return the same to the Museum as soon as possible ; it is hoped that by this means a large proportion of the missing works may be recovered. Meteorology. Meteorogical statistics are collected at four second-class stations in New Zealand, at Auckland, Wellington, Christchureh and Dunedin, and observations of rain-fall, temperature and wind direction are received from thirty third-class stations. The results are published monthly, and will be collected as usaal into a biennial report. There is no first-class meteorological station in New Zealand having the equipment required by the Intercolonial Conference. The system of intercolonial telegraphic weather exchange has now been in operation for twelve months, and the results obtained and the proposals for securing earlier publication, in an easily comprehensible form, of the weather changes, will form the subject of a special report. The New Zealand weather for each day is now published the same afternoon in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and there is no reason why, with a few changes in the organisation of the system, that the Australian weather phase for each day should not be published in all the principal towns in New Zealand on the following morning, By this means from twenty-four to sixty hours' notice would be given of all the most important weather changes. Observatory. The time ball service for Wellington is at present suspended, as the ball was dismounted when the old Custom House was removed. Arrangements are being made, however, for its re-erection in a prominent position. In the mean time the Telegraph Department continues to be supplied with mean time, and time signals are furnished to Lyttelton and to various private persons by galvanometers. In reply to an application from the Home Government, arrangements are being made for organising a corps of local observers for the forthcoming Transit of Venus in December, to assist the party of observers that are to be sent out from Greenwich Observatory. Laboratory. The number of analyses performed in the Colonial Laboratory for ordinary purposes during the past y,ear is 265, so that the Laboratory number now arrived at is 3,285. These analyses are subdivided as follows: Coals, 13; minerals and rocks, 58; metals and ores, 40 ; examination for silver and gold, 89 ; waters, 21; miscellaneous, 40. Total 265. Besides the above, a large number of examinations have been made under the Adulteration Act of 1880, and about the month of August time was occupied in visiting the Rotorua District, at which place he collected samples of and analysed specimens of water from the various springs. The Analyst has also been occupied at various times in verifying certain sets of weights and measures, in compliance with the Act. The results of the analyses, which are of general interest, are noted in full in the Annual Report which is appended. James Hector.

Authority: George Didebury, Government Printer, Wellington —1882.