H.—33

2

Meteoeological. The returns of the principal stations for 1900 have been supplied as usual to the EegistrarGeneral to be included in his annual statistics, and the monthly rainfall returns from 176 stations have been regularly published in the Gazette. The monthly return for vital statistics has been supplied, and the weather exchange, by telegraph, is continued between this colony and Australia. Colonial Time-ball Obseevatoey. Mr. Thomas King, the officer in charge, reports as follows : The transit work in connection with the daily time service has proceeded as usual. Details of the observations are appended hereto, together with particulars of the rates of the standard clocks. The clocks have gone well throughout the year. The transit instrument has, of course, been frequently treated for adjustment. As in past years, hourly galvanometer signals have been sent from the Observatory to the Colonial Museum, and to the Telegraph-office, Wellington, and time has been distributed throughout the colony each morning at 9 o'clock. On chronometer-rating days, special signals have, as heretofore, been telegraphed to the chief ports of the colony for the convenience of navigators. The time-ball at Wellington has been dropped each day at noon (Sundays excepted). Approved. James Hectoe, Manager. Thomas Mason, Chairman. 6th September, 1901.

New Zealand Institute Accounts foe 1900-1901. Receipts. Expenditure. £ s. d. £ s. d. Balance .. .. .. .. 432 511 Printing Vol. XXXIII. (inoluding plates) .. 384 14 0 Vote for 1900-1901 .. .. .. 500 0 0 Expenses of library .. .. .. 20 0 0 Contribution from Wellington Philosophical Postage of volumes to foreign addresses .. 2 17 4 Society .. .. .. 11 11 0 Miscellaneous items .. .. .. 15 4 0 Saleof'Maor Art" .. .. .. 17 14 9 Balance in hand .. .. .. 538 16 4 £961 11 8 £961 11 8 Examined and found correct.—Wm. Thos. Locke Teavebs.'—sth September, 1901. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,375 copies), £1 6s. 6d.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9ol. Price 3d.]