Friday November 9, 1894

R.A.S. Com^ee & Council meeting beginning at 2.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Mr Swasey called – Gas failed. Mr Simmonds turned it off in the Chronometer room.

Frank Dyson, Chief Assistant

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RH says..... The report of the RAS Council meeting can be found here. The meeting included a paper by Rev W. Sidgreaves on 'Solar Observations at Stonyhurst College Observatory', prompting a discussion on spectroscopic observations of sunspots and a long response from E. Walter Maunder, the head of the Royal Observatory's solar observation programme. There is also mention of Thomas Lewis's observations of a binary star with the 28-inch telescope. Responding to this, Maunder said that Lewis's observation was "a testimony to his skill and keenness of sight as a double-star observer; and it may also be regarded as satisfactory as showing the defining-power of the new refractor at Greenwich." In support of this point he added that on the previous Monday night he had observed Mars's satellites with it: "There was not the smallest difficulty in seeing and measuring" them.

Thursday March 29, 1894

Trials of the gas engine which would not work satisfactorily. After examining the gas supply (which was found satisfactory) easing & lubricating the bearings & it was got into good working order by Saturday morning. The accumulator cells were filled on Friday morning & partly charged, though the engine did not then run properly.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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RH says..... Gas lighting had first been installed at the Observatory way back in 1851, when George Airy was Astronomer Royal, although it had recently (1893) been replaced with electric lighting.

Wednesday March 28, 1894

A man from Crossley’s cleaned the gas engine & restarted it running for a short time.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

Thursday January 25, 1894

The laying of the new gas main was commenced and completed on Monday morning Jan 29.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

Friday 19 January, 1894

Col. Wheatley (Bailiff of Parks) came & sanctioned digging of trench for gas & electric mains in side avenue.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

Thursday 11 January, 1894

M^r Russell (from Messrs Johnson & Phillips) called about the laying of the electric main. M^r Jordan Superint^t of the park came with reference to proposed laying of gas & electric mains inside avenue. He arranged to have trial openings made to see whether roots of trees would there would be interference with the roots of trees. He called again on Saturday & arranged that Col. Wheatley should come down to settle the question in two or three days’ time.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal