FORGING AHEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 112, 7 November 1935, Page 17

FORGING AHEAD

ASTRONOMY IN NEW ZEALAND

SOCIETY'S ANNUAL MEETING

A year of progress in almost every one of its manifold activities was recorded by the reports read to last night's annual meeting of the New Zealand Astronomical Society^ over which Mr. J. C. Begg presided. The business was of a formal nature, consisting largely of accounts by' the various sections of their work during the past year. , . The society -was founded in November, 1920, just one hundred years after the Royal Astronomical Society was founded, stated;the"annual report. There were 78: original members, and today 14 of these gentlemen were still members of the society. The membership of the society, showed a small increase over that of the previous year. At the- end of the year the" number of members was 95. Local astronomical societies at Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Hawera, Wellington, and Dunedin were members of the society, as well as the Wellington City Observatory, the Wellington College Observatory, the Ashburton High School, and the Southland Boys' High School. The council had continued its policy of monthly distributions of literature to members. Commencing in November, 1934, a printed journal of 16 pages took the place of the former cyclostyled notes. The journal was called "Southern Stars," and had been appreciated by members and recipients overseas. Additions had been made to the library by means of purchases of new books, by gifts from observatories and other societies, and by exchanges of publications with other societies. Newlantern slides published by the Royal Astronomical Society had been purchased and added to the collection so as to keep it up to date. Good use had been made of the lantern slides by members. OBSERVING SECTIONS. The practical work of the society had been maintained by the observing sections, and the results were published from time to time in the publications of the society. The variable star section had issued cyclostyled circulars containing detailed observations to overseas observatories, institutions, and amateurs interested in this work. Several papers had been published by the meteor section in the monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, and in other publications. Mr. G-. T. Railton was appointed director of the computiong section. ■The two members, Messrs.'A. C. Gifford and C. G. G. Berry, nominated by the society to act on the committee of the Wellington City Observatory, had continued in office. Members of this society had given great help to the observatory by voluntary service in assisting on public nights, and in taking care of the instruments generally. The society had to record with pleasure receipt of a gift telescope from Mr. W. H. Ward, of Wanganui. It was a reflecting telescope of Hi inches aperture, unmounted. The mirror was made by the late Mr. J. T. Ward. This was a valuable gift, and it was hoped that use would be made of the telescope in the future when means were available for-providing a mounting and shelter. " Dr. J. M. Baldwin, Government Astronomer, Melbourne, acted as delegate to the Melbourne meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science in January, 1935. Astronomical papers of interest read at that meeting were kindly forwarded to the society by Dr. Baldwin, and abstracts published in "Southern Stars." Nine meetings of the council had been held during, the year, and the general business of the society given attention. "Vacancies on the council were filled by the appointment of Professor F. F. Miles and Mr. E. L. G. Mbrley. Officers ,were elected as follows:— Patron, his Excellency Viscount Galway; president. Professor D. C. H. Florance; vice-presidents, Sir Francis Bell and Messrs. J. C. Begg. E., D. Bell, and A. C. Gifford; honorary secretary, Dr. C. E. Adams; honorary treasurer, Mr. C. G. G. Berry; honorary. editor, Mr. I. L. Thomsen; honorary librarian, Mr. J. P. Nicoll; council. Professor F. F. Miles, Messrs. A. W. Burrell. M. Geddes, E. L. G. Morley, C. J. Westland., and N. D. Hood; auditor, Mr H. A. R. Huggins.