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NOTABLE SOUTH AUSTRALIANS;

was then no house on the summit, and so this involved climbing the mountain daily in all weathers. Many a battle he fought with the storms and snow-drifts of the Ben, and the work was continued with the addition of six intermediate stations in 1882, and carried on until the storms of winter absolutely compelled him, at much risk to life, to desist from his arduous ascents. Very important information was obtained relative to the vertical distribution of atmospheric pressure, and its bearing on the cyclonic and anti-cyclonic types of weather, and his work was rewarded by a special gold medal given by the Society, and high commendation by Sir William Thomson. In 1877 Mr. Wragge had married, in Adelaide, a South Australian lady, daughter of the late Edward Thornton, Esq., solicitor, of Kensington, and in consequence of his wife's failing health, he returned to the colony, with his family, in 1883, by the "Maranoa," having first arranged his museum and re-organised the work at Ben Nevis, which he left in assistant's hands. An observatory-house now crowns the summit of that mountain, to the erection of which nearly every class subscribed, from the Queen downwards, and his work is permanently continued by the Scottish Meteorological Society. He made many observations during his voyage out in the "Maranoa," and shortly after arrival here established the Torrens Observatory at Walkerville (Jan. 1, 1884), purchased the land on which it stands, and settled his family thereon. This observatory is equipped with the best observing instruments, including barograph and thermograph, which constantly record by clock-work every variation of atmospheric pressure and temperature. A new form of hygrometer, registering by electricity, is a great feature in this observatory. There is also a fine astronomical equatorially-mounted telescope, with object glass of best quality, by Wray, of London, besides a small altazimuth, and numerous other instruments and appliances. Valuahle records have been obtained bearing