5

o.—la.

Table D. Mean Annual Values of the Magnetic Elements at Christchurch Observatory.

Owing to the pressure of the current work of the Observatory, it was not possible to measure the records of the curves of the magnetic elements for the years 1906-9, which are in arrears ; a special effort will, however, be made to overtake all arrears during the next two years. The annual report of the Director, containing a list of the earthquakes recorded at Christchurch, tables of hourly values of the declination and horizontal force for 1924, Vector diagrams for the seasons, monthly and annual curves of declination and horizontal force, will appear in Volume 2 of the " Records of the Survey." Geographic Board. A Geographic Board was appointed provisionally to deal with the questions of the correct spelling of Maori and geographical names, the changing of alien names appearing on the official maps to British or Native ones, and the investigation of the priority of the discovery of any geographical feature. The members of the Board (Veil. Archdeacon Williams, Gisborne ; Hon. Sir Frederick Chapman, Messrs. Elsdon Best, Crompton Smith, J. C. Andersen, and the Surveyor-General, Wellington) are well-known authorities in such matters. A preliminary meeting was held in the Government Buildings last September. Rules of nomenclature were submitted, and resolutions were unanimously passed recommending that the small lake on Pigeon Island be christened the " Arethusa Pool " ; the peak that dominates it be named " Tvrwhitt Peak," and that Pigeon Island be renamed " Harwich Island," in honour of Rear-Admiral Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt, who commanded the Harwich Force during the late war, and whose first flagship in that force was the " Arethusa." The members of the Board present at the above meeting were Sir Frederick Chapman (presiding), Messrs. J. C. Andersen, M. Crompton Smith, and the Surveyor-General. The constitution, functions, and personnel of the Board are defined in the Survey Bill which it is anticipated will be ready for next session of Parliament. Further particulars of the first meeting will appear in the " Records." Office-work. Brief reports of the work carried out during the year under review in the district offices administered by the Chief Surveyors are summarized in Table 5 appended hereto, and the state of the map-publication and the work performed at the Head Office is contained in Appendix I, Report by H. E. Walshe, Chief Draughtsman. Proposed Operations for the Year 1925-26. Geodetic Triangulation.—This work is being executed by Mr. H. M. Ross, who will continue observing the stations of the scheme on which signals have been erected in the northern portion of the Gisborne Land District. Standard Surveys.—The proposed work for the year comprised the surveys of Whangarei, New Plymouth, Blenheim, and Invercargill by Messrs. Kensington, Haase, Clapperton, and Otway

t. Declination Annual Horizontal Annual Vertical Annual Inclination Annual 1 Y!^hf S E. of N. Change. Force. Change. Force. Change. South. Change. Annual Report. . i_ I ! ! I ' 0 i C.G.S. Unit. Y C.G.S. Unit. y 1902 .. 16 15-1 +3-2 j 0-22694 -25 0-55277 + 9 67 40-80 +1 50 1912-13 1903 .. 16 18-3 +3-5 j 0-22669 -25 0-55286 +21 67 42-30 +1-80 1912-13 1904 .. 16 21-8 +3-6 0-22644 -16 0-55307 +41 67 44-10 +1-70 1912-13 1905 .. 16 25-4 +2-4 0-22628 -23 0-55348 +28 67 45-80 +1-80 1919-20 1906 .. 1907 .. 16 31-1 1908 .. 1909 .. 1910 .. 16 37-6 +1-4 0-22515 -27 0-55485 +12 67 54-80 +1-40 1920-21 1911 .. 16 39-0 +2-5 0-22494 -23 0-55497 - 9 67 56-20 +1-00 1912 .. 1913 .. 16 44-0 +0-8 0-22449 -35 0-55478 -13 67 58-20 +1-60 1913-14 1914 .. 16 44-8 +2-2 0-22414 -27 0-55465 + 7 67 59-80 +1-67 1914-15 1915 .. 16 47-0 +2-8 0-22387 -32 .. .. .. .. *Sept., 1918 1916 .. 16 49-8 +3-2 0-22355 -27 .. .. .. .. *Sept„ 1918 1917 .. 16 53-0 +2-7 0-22328 -24 0-55486 +30 68 04-80 +1-90 *Mar., 1921 1918 .. 16 55-7 +2-9 0-22304 -24 0-55516 - 9 68 06-70 +1-10 1918-19 1919 .. 16 58-6 +3-1 0-22280 -19 0-55507 +18 68 07-80 +1-40 1919-20 1920 .. 17 01-7 +2-9 0-22261 -20 0-55525 +03 68 09-20 +1-10 11920-21 1921 .. 17 04-6 +3-7 0-22241 -24 0*55528 -21 68 10-30 +0-90 tl921-22 1922 .. 17 08-3 +3-4 0-22217 08 0-55507 -+ 19 68 11-20 +0*80 f 1922-23 1923 .. 17 11-7 +4-7 0-22209 -21 0*55526 -18 6S 12-00 +0-73 11923-24 1924 .. 17 16-4 .. 0-22188 .. 0-55508 .. 68 17-73 .. i'1924-25 * Mean hourly values published in New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology. t Special publication.