Letter by W Scott, 9 May 1857

28

11 Macquarie St. South
Sydney May 9th 1857

57/50

Sir

Your request for a copy of the registry of rainfall at Sydney for as long a period as possible was referred to me for the first time yesterday. I send you the returns from April 1840 to October 1856, at which time the observations were discontinued.

I fear these results will be of very little service to you in calculations relating to Geelong or its neighbourhood, as the rainfall there must be altogether different from that at Sydney.

I have the honour to be
Sir
Your most obedient Servant
W Scott
Astronomer

The Engineer in Chief
Water & Sewerage Commission
Geelong

Letter by H C Russell, 15 March 1871

325

15 March 71

Sir

I have spoken to Mr Cracknell about the difficulty I find with some of the observers and he has authorized me to say that fines will be imposed where the returns are not attended to: How is it that you have not sent in yours? I am obliged to distinguish you in the Herald when I publish the monthly abstract and as several members of Parliament are very much interested in these returns. It may lead some of them to ask why Maitland is omitted.

I have &C
H C Russell
Govt Astronomer

The Station Master
Maitland

Letter by W Scott, 19 February 1858

The Astronomer respecting printing meteorological returns

58/33

11 Macquarie Street South

Feb 19 1858

Sir

The question of printing the returns from the meteorological observatories having been referred to me for further consideration, I beg to state that it is highly desirable that they should be printed.

Each return will involve less than one half the labor and expense of one of those published at Melbourne, and there is no objection to their appearing in pairs as suggested by the Government Printer.

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your Obedient Servant
W Scott

The Honorable The Colonial Secretary

Letter by H C Russell, 13 February 1871

285

Sydney Observatory
13 Feb 1871

My dear Sir

In arranging some letters this morning I found yours of 6 January last not marked as answered and I have no copy of the answer which I am under the impression I wrote for fear I forget to answer, of which unfortunately from the large correspondence I have to keep up: there is some possibility. I write now to thank you for the return enclosed. I am collecting as fast as I can all the returns for 1870 and will publish yours with them.

I have printed and checked of all the Meteorological returns I could command up to the end of 1869 so that in future it will be easy to get at the general results for the Colony.

Yours very truly
H.C. Russell

E Belf?? Esqre
Double Bay

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

251

Govt Observatory
24th Janry 1871

Sir

I was very much surprised to hear this morning from my assistant that you had not sent in the monthly meteorological Returns for 1870. I have been myself too busy to attend to it and took it for granted that when I restored the pay you would send in the Returns.

I cannot pay the last quarter salary until I receive the whole of the returns for 1870 and we want them as soon as possible for the Annual Return.

I have the honor to be
H C Russell
Govt Astronomer

Mr S Robins??
Armidale

521

Sydney Observatory
November 30th 1871

Sir

I have the honor herewith to enclose Meteorological Returns to end of 1870, for the Emigration Commissioners; as requested by your letter of the 22nd inst:

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your most obedt servt
H A Lenehan
“Computer”

The Principal
Under Secretary

Observatory
13th November 90

The Postmaster
Warren

Sir

I have sent you several circulars calling for Returns of the temperature Rainfall & weather at Warren during 1889 & the present year of which you have not taken any notice. Excepting to send in very imperfect returns for July August & September of this year.

For the first 6 months of this year I have no returns. I am writing to you now as a last reminder before making an official complaint against you for neglect of duty. This work was duly undertaken by you and the neglect of it has made the record of Temperature and Rainfall at Warren most unsatisfactory.
I have the honour to be
Sir
Your obedient Servant
H. C. Russell
Govt Astronomer

Nov 24th [186]9

The Govt Printer

Dear Sir

In the last lot of Monthly Returns two came like the inclosed [sic]; without the curves. It would of course destroy the value of the Return to any one receiving it without the curves, and we have always before taken it for granted that if one was right; then the next were. These were discovered accidentally.

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
H C Russell
Govt Astronomer

432

Sydney Observatory
20 June 1871

Sir
Not having for a long time past received any Meteorological Returns from you, I conclude that you have ceased taking observations, and have therefore to request that you will deliver the Instruments you received from the late Astronomer to Prof?? Hill on the Island of Rambi?? who has undertaken to furnish regular Meteorological Returns.

The instruments are
Rain Gauge
Glass Measure
Max Thermometer
Min Thermometer

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
H. C. Russell
Govt Astronomer

Cave Esqre
??