NELSON SOLAR OBSERVATORY

,: do»or FROiaiEs uo,ooo. ' DETAiELS OF THE SCHEME. Some interesting-particulars of the solar observatory which it is proposed to establish, at Nelson - with funds provided 'by Mr. Thomas-Cawthron, of that town, were given by Dr. C. 'M. Hector, in an address delivered before the Wellington Philosophical Society on Wednesday. Dr. (Hector referred to the visit of Mr. Evershed, of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory in India, for tbe purpose of reporting on the various suggested sites around Nelson. The establishment of a solar observatory in New Zealand, he said, had the cordial approval of the leading authorities in Europe and America, an>d offer of all possible assistance from the British Astronomical Association.

iMeteorologically the neighbourhood of Nelson was eminently suitable. The record* showed that it has 33 per cent, more sunshine and 20 -per cent, less rain than the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory. Of the sites vailable, that on the Port Hills, within easy reach of the town, had so far proved the most -satisfactory from-erery-pointof view. The estimated minimum sum required to establish an observatory competent to give continuous service, equivalent to that of northern observatories was £30.000, which hud 'been promised by Mr. Cawthron as a beginning.

A suggested deed of trust and a suggested board of trustees had been submitted to Air. Cawthron i»d approved by him. The proposed constitution of the Board of Trustees was as follows, said Dr. Hectoo-:—One member each representing the .Nelson Institute, Nelson <'ity Council, ißoard of Governors of the Nelson College, New Zealand Institute Council, Professorial Board of the Victoria College, and (New Zealand University, middle district (these last-men-tioned thTee bodies to have only one representative between them), the Government Astronomer, the Astronomical Section Council, the Surveyors' Board, and two others to be elected by the rest of the Board This made up a Board of twelve members.