George Grant Bond
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Conclusion
Register of Marks
Bibliography
References
Index
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In January, Mr Clement Wragge was approached by the Captain of the Innaminka, Captain Irvine, for his estimation of the cost of establishing a meteorological station in the north. Mr Wragge quoted a figure of £1000, whereupon it was decided to try to raise the money by public subscription, and to approach Mr Wragge to take charge. In a letter to the Courier, Mr Donaldson of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, complained that absolutely nothing had been done to improve the storm warning system of the north Queensland coast. Mr Hunt replied by stating that barographs had now been installed at all Queensland ports, and arrangements made with the PMG Department for the regular interchange of reports from Rockhampton to Thursday Island during the cyclone season. Wireless reports were sometimes received from ships at sea, but were obviously not a regular source of information. Mr Hunt assured the people of Cairns that greater knowledge of cyclones and the Queensland weather in general, had greatly assisted in the issuing of forecasts. He emphatically stated that a Meteorological Bureau at Cairns would not be able to give earlier or more accurate warnings, especially when the telegraph lines were down, and no messages could be sent or received. He summed up by declaring that the system in use for issuing forecasts, was 'The best that can be devised'.[8] So the people of north Queensland were not able to convince the authorities in Melbourne that their cause was justified, and the one man they thought could solve all their problems would not accept their invitation to take charge of their proposed Weather Station. Clement Wragge was a busy man, and had just travelled the world, and on his return to Australia, gave a series of lectures on astronomy, religion and philosophy. North Queensland weather, it seemed, was far from his mind.
The discontent of the people of the north and their many protestations, were trying and upsetting for George Bond. Although Mr Hunt took the responsibility of issuing official replies to their demands, it was the Queensland weatherman who felt the sting of their displeasure.
People in Bright Sparcs - Bond, George Grant; Hunt, Henry Ambrose ; Wragge, Clement Lindley
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Bureau of Meteorology |  |
© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
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