| Description | Present at the meeting of the Meteorological Committee: Dr Hooker, CB, President, in the Chair; Professor Adams; Mr Broun; Mr De La Rue; Dr Guy; Reverend R Main; Mr W Smyth; Mr Spottiswoode; Profesor Stewart; Professor Stokes
Minutes of the meeting of 14 June 1876 read and confirmed
Motion proposed by Mr De La Rue adopted; ' That unless the Government are disposed to make the Meteorological Office a government department with an administrative officer responsible to a Minister of the Crown, a step which in the present condition of the meteorological science would probably be premature, this Committee recommend, as a further tentative measure, that the system of a Committee of control should be continued, but with some essential differences. It could hardly be expected that any Committee should devote so much time as would be necessary for the further development of meteorological science, without remuneration; moreover, it seems most desirable that it should be presided over by a man eminent in science who would be expected to attend weekly and be paid a sufficient honorarium to ensure the services of a man of the highest scientific attainments; moreover, it ought to consist of four other members who would not be required to attend so often, and who should also be paid for their attendance. A thousand pounds per annum would suffice for this object. The Royal Society would be willing to aid the Govenment in the selection of such a Committee, and, if requested to do so, in draughting out a scheme for the administrtion of the Office. '
Motion proposed by Mr Stewart adopted; ' That there shall be two Inspectors appointed in order to inspect the provincial observations: one for Scotland, and one for IReland. '
Resolved, ' That the Officers be empowered to make such verbal alterations as they may find necessary in the foregoing draught, and to send it in to the Treasurey Committee as the answer of teh President and Council. ' |