CAWTHRON OBSERVATORY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2130, 23 April 1914, Page 6

CAWTHRON OBSERVATORY.

THE DONOR PROMISES £30,000. At last ovening's mesting o? the Philosophical Society, tho . president, Dr. C. i\l. Hector, entertained tho members with an analytical review of tho movement which is bringing about tho establishment at an early date of the Cawtluon Solar Observatory at Nelson. Hβ traced the enthusiastic work ai Miss Mary Proctor, tho munificent offer of Mr.'Thos. Cawthron, of Nelson, to provide for tho orectioa .nnd endowment of a solar observatory, and the work of Mr. Jivershed, who had • undertaken elaborate tests on the hills rcmnd Nelson to mako suro that the locality was a suitablo ono for the observatory. In connection with tbo latter part of tho work, Dr. Hector (with the assistanceof Mr. J. M'Donald) showed a series of limelight views of Nelson and the surrounding hills, and entered into details as to the respective value of tfie'sitee tested by Mr. Evcrslied (who hac! the assistance of Mr. G\ 3. Westland,. of Canterbury), such sites being, at Mr. Cawthron's request, all within sight- of Nelson town. At tho conclusion Dr. Hector gave a succinct summary of the present- posi* tion respecting tho observatory:— (1) Tlio establishment, of a- solar observatory in New Zealand has tfce cordial approval of tho leading authorities in Lurqpe and America, and offer of all possible . 'assistance' from fchfl British Astronomical Assoc-iatioii. (2) Meteorologically tte' neighbourhood of Nolson ia eminently suitable Tho records show that it has 33 per cent, more sunshine and 20 per cent, less rain than at Kodsikanal Solar Observatory, in India. (3) Several excellent sites 'aro avail* able within a short distance of. Nelson. (i) Examination ef tlieso sites by a recognised expert has shown J\mi 'the conditions aro excellent for solar *o*k. "(5) Of the sites available, that on the Port Hills, within-easy reach of .tte town, has so far proved the best from an observfttorial point of ¥ievr* (6) The adoption of this site will mean an enormous saving in initial outlay and running expenses. (7) Tho. estimated minimum sum required to establish an observatory competent to give continuous service equivalent to that of northern observatories is £30.000. ' ' .(8) Mr. Thomas Cawtliron has promised to give £30,QG& for a beginning., . (8) A suggested deed, of trust has been drawn up, and : a suggested Board of Trustees has been submitteS to Mr. Cawthron for his approval., (10) Mr. Cawthrott has generally expressed his approval at tlio above. In tho picture .of «Ao approved site, the location is shown on tho hill at the rear side of the Boys' Colleges and Dr. Hector stated that it is in close proximinity to tho new Queen's piive thai Mr. Cawthron is presenting to tho city of Nelson. -, The proposed constitution of tho Board of Trustees is as follows:—Oae member each representing tlie Nelson Institute, Nelson City Council, Board of Governors of the Nclsor College, New Zealand Institute Couneil, Professorial Board of the Victoria College, and New Zealand University, middle district (these last-mentioned 1 three bodies to have only ono representative between them), the Government' Astronomer, the Astronomical Section Council, tho Surveyors' Board, afsd two others to be elected by the rest of the board. This makes up a board of twelve raerabefs. Dr. Hector was heartHy thanked for'the lucid information gken.