Letter by H C Russell, 7 February 1871

276

7 Feby 1871

Sir

No Meteorological Return has been received from you for the last 4 months. I have today sent you a telegram asking for January but I want also October November & December 1870; as several members of Parliament moved the Government to establish the meteorological stations and expect to see in the Herald a monthly statement from each station. Unless you send in your returns regularly so as to reach me by about the 5th of 6th of each month I shall be compelled to draw public attention to the omission.

I have the honor to be
H C Russell
Govt Astronomer

The Station Master
Telegraph Office
Kiandra

Pg 61

Janry 7 1891

Sir

I have the honour herewith to enclose particulars of Rainfall in the Tumut District for the period referred to in your Letter of Jan 2nd 90/15067. I have no records of The River heights at Tumut. but a record is kept at Gundagai and this would necessarily be affected by floods in the Tumut River. I have therefore given the heights of the River at Gundagai for 1887, 1888, 1889 & 1890. It will be seen that the floods of 1887 were much higher and more continuous than those of 1889 or 1890 and that the monthly average height of the water in 1890 was greater than it was in 1889 of the 17 Rain Stations about Tumut. probably Kiandra although over the top of the range indicates the Rainfall which would affect the River most. because it is the mountain rain. but in the … of River Measures at Tumut I am unable to say to what height the River would rise with such rains.

I have the honour to be
Your obedient Servant
H.C. Russell
Govt Astronomer

The Under Secretary for Lands

Kiandra
Mr W. H. Redriff
Telegraph Office
Kiandra

If I have any more of these impertinent telegrams from you, they must be accompanied by your resignation of the position of observer.

H C Russell
Govt Astronomer

Novr 12th-90

128

Sept 13 [187]0

The Station Master
Kiandra

Sir

Previous to your taking charge of the Instruments at Kiandra they gave correct results. I have therefore thought it necessary to send you the enclosed instructions for observing Thermometers and request that you will be guided by them.

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your Obedient Servant
HC Russell
Govt Astronomer

463

15 August 1871

Sir

I have to request your attention to the following instructions relative to your rainfall observations as all your results for rain ?? in July have to be rejected owing to the want of accuracy.

Instructions

When rain has fallen the funnel?? tap is to be taken off and the water in the rain gauge poured into the glass measure and the number of divisions of the glass which are covered are to be entered in the proper place simply as a number not decimals. Should there be more water than is required to fill the glass measure to 50, fill the glass to 50 empty it and fill again as often as you have water to do it, allowing?? also the water ?? which?? number?? increases?? covers?? and later?? them in the proper place. Example. Suppose you have filled the glass to 50 twice and the remainder covers thirtythree (33) then the total will be 50+50+33 = 133.

When snow falls measure with a rule in some open place the depth in inches and fractions of an inch and record the amount in your records?? not in the column for rain.

On the first opportunity you have put the raingauge without the funnel top into a scales?? and weigh it carefully. Then fill it with snow and weigh it again and send me both results by telegram as soon as is possible.

I have the honour to be
H C Russell
Govt Astronomer

Station Master
Kiandra