D.—No. 39.

ESTABLISHMENT OE AN OBSERVATORY.

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the accuracy of the results; and the " time " as given daily can be relied on as correct within a fraction of a second, so that it may be confidently adopted by mariners for the purpose of rating their chronometors. I would strongly recommend that provision be made for securing the continued services of Mr. Stock. In conclusion, I feel it my duty to state that, had it not been for the assistance afforded by Mr. Stock and Mr. Kebbell, the establishment of the Observatory could not have been effected without a much larger expenditure of public funds. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. James Hector.

Enclosure in No. 4. Cost or Time Ball and Astronomical Clocks. Instruments. £ s. d. Two Clocks and Time Ball with Electrical Apparatus 360 0 0 Batteries and Wires ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 43 16 0 Transit Instrument (including charges) ... ... ... ... ... 75 5 5 Ereight and charges (on clocks, &c.) ... ... ... ... ... 97 14 6 Galvanometer ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 10 6 £580 6 5 Buildings, Sfc. Altering roof of Custom House, erecting Observatory, and fixing Instruments 364 16 8 Brick and Iron work ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18 8 4 Alterations and Additions ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 60 6 1 Chemicals, &c, 1865-68 50 13 2 £494 4 3 £1,074 10 8 Provincial Treasury, Wellington, 17th November, 1868.