5

C—lα

observations at the AueUaud Islands, ami Mr. Skey, With Messrs. Kidsoii ami Qpi« as assistants, those at the Campbell [elands. Maps showing the positions of the stations observed on these islands, and the magnetic declination! found at each place, are appended ; also a map of the North Island of New Zealand, showing lines of equal magnetic force and uoolinale, corresponding with that of the South Island published in the Survey annual report of 1899 L 90 0; and maps of both North and South Islands of New Zealand, showing the stations observed at, the magnetic declination at each, and isoniagnetic lines, as determined from the magnetic survey. It is hoped that an opportunity will be afforded during the coming year to extend the observations to the Kermadec, or possibly the Cook Islands. A complete discussion of the results for the Snares. Auckland, and Campbell Islands is being drawn up, and will appear in the volume* to be published next year by the Canterbury Philosophical Institute, which volumes will contain the whole of the scientific results obtained from the Sub Antarctic Expedition of 1907, the cost of which is being defrayed by the Government. The Director of the Magnetic Department of the Carnegie Institute of Washington has intimated that their new ocean-surveying vessel now under construction will visit New Zealand in the course of the Atlantic anil Indian Ocean magnetic survey, and will avail herself of the observatory. The Institute has sent out on loan to the observatory a field magnetometer of the latest pattern, for which thanks are due, and the magnetometer hitherto in use on our magnetic survey was, with the concurrence of the committee of the National Physical Laboratory, to whom it belongs, lent to the British Antarctic Expedition until their return to New Zealand. Altogether the past year has, throughout the world, been a very successful one for the science of terrestrial magnetism, and we may soon look forward to the completion of the magnetic survey of the globe, a work which, while of practical value to navigation, will also be of vast importance as a contribution to the treasuries of science. Mr. Skey's detailed report will be found in Appendix 11. Skcui.au Movkment ok thk Xkw Zealand Coast. The importance of provision being made for its detection and determination at a later period has been brought under notice of late years, but up to the present no steps appear to have been taken to secure and permanently record reliable information as to existing conditions, so as to afford data tor the determination at some future time, of slow elevation or subsidence of different parts of the coast line, which knowledge, apart from its scientific interest, is an important factor in the construction of marine works, as was pointed out by the late Mr. P. S. Hay, Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, in J903, in a special report on the subject. As a preliminary to a more comprehensive scheme in the future in a wider distribution of ticfe-gaUget and mean sea-level determinations, it is my intention, with your approval, to have the zeros of all existing tide gauges in the various ports of the Dominion carefully connected to permanent bench-marks in secure positions on the shore, which can be effected at a very small cost. Departmental Changes. Obituary. It is with great regret that 1 bare to record the death of two most capable officers, in the persons of Mr. John Hay, the Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown hands, Southland, and Mr. T. M. Grant, Chief Draughtsman at Nelson. Mr. Hay had a long and wide experience of nearly forty years in the service, having joined the Otago Provincial staff as a cadet in ISI>7. Later he entered private practice: but in 1873 he rejoined the service as District Surveyor for the western districts of Southland, which position he held until 1897, when he was appointed Chief Surveyor of Otngo. Four years later he was promoted to the dual office of Chief Surveyor ami Commissioner of Crown Lands of Southland, a position he held to the time of his death, which occurred on the Ist of August last Mr. Hay , was a most energetic and highly capable officer, and an enthusiast in his profession. His removal from our midst is felt to be a great loss, both officially and socially. Mr. T. M. Grant's career was cut short by a lamentable , accident that happened to him whilst travelling in the interior of his district on inspection duties, after a thirty years' service in the Department, baring entered it in as an Assistant Draughtsman. He acted as such for many \ears in the Head Office, and in March, 1002. was promoted to Chief Draughtsman at Hokitika, and to Nelson in 1906 in the same capacity: but, unfortunately, this term of office was of but