The Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1923. THE YALE OFFER.

Evening Star, Issue 18394, 1 October 1923, Page 6

The Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1923. THE YALE OFFER.

“I fiavf, observed in my life,” someono remarks in one of Mr Kipling’s stories, “ that Great Ones employ words very little between etch other in their dealings; still less when they speak to a third concerning those dealings. Also they profit by silence.” Auckland city seems to have noticed the same thing, and) to have followed very faithfully tho example set by Great Ones in the quietness of its pursuit of the Yalo telescope. Its faith in tho power of money to talk, when an offer of £3,000 towards the expense ot the desired observatory was made by tho City Council, has been matched by the discretion shown in not shouting its designs from the housetops at tho risk of quickening tho competition of others for the prize till there was to hope that it was beyond their obtaining. Mr J. C. Begg referred to this aspect of the northern methods when he stated: “It is fortunate that the action of the Auckland Institute has now been made public, as little information of its activities has hitherto leaked through to sister scientific bodies in New Zealand.” From a remark of the Mayor of Auckland (Mr Gnnson) it would seem that only a minority of Aucklanders knew all that was being done on their behalf till success of the tactics adopted was considered) to bo assured. “Tiro Auckland City Council,’’ he explained, “ has not previously been able to make any announcement of these negotiations; but it will be seen that the negotiations by the council in conjunction with the council of tho Auckland Institute have reached so advanced a stage that aa announcement can, now bo made sotting out tho progress that has been made with the proposition, which has for its object the location at Auckland of so enormously valuable a scientific establishment.”

It is three years since Ota-go first discussed the obtaining of this telescope for its own district, held by leading scientists to be the most favorable in New Zealand for observations. That Auckland in a few months has achieved so good a prospect of securing it tells its own, tale of the efficiency of the northern methods. At first sight the Auckland plan of campaign might bear an unpleasant resemblance to stealing a march on the rest of New Zealand; but Aucklanders will not view the matter in that light. It would oven seem doubtful whether, so far as they are concerned, any “rest of New Zealand”'which might have claims to bo considered along with Auckland in tho allocation of public services or amenities exists. Mr Gimson at least would seem to be altogether oblivious of its existence. “ Tho only serious competitor with Auckland,” he is reported as saying, “ is understood to have been South Africa; but tho conditions here appear to bo so favorable that there is now littia doubt that we shall get the observatory.”* That was an amazing statement. It was a committee of tiro New Zealand Institute which recommended long before any claim to it was made by the northern city that tho best site for the telescope would bo in Otago. The Australasian Association for tho Advancement of Science, at the congress which it held in Wellington, passed a resolution urging tiro Government to carry out teste in Central Otago and in such other places as preliminary investigations might indicate to be suitable, putting this province thereby in tho first place. It was the New Zealand Astronomical Society, concerned only for the best interests of science and of the dominion as a whole, and with no Auckland or other local axo to grind, which a few weeks ago, in the spirit of tlris earlier resolution, asked the Government for a grant for tho making of trial observations. While tho general opinion of dominion experts outside Auckland proviuco seems to have favored Otago as a site, claims have been made for Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, and W ; aimato as places where tire observatory might bo advantageously established. Tho South African claim would appear to be the weakest of all, on scientific grounds, since there is an observatory already at Cape Town, and one is being prepared for Johannesburg. The greatest benefit is obviously to be derived irom an observatory that would bo further south than South Africa. Even Auckland ■nroujd be 100 far north for the observatory’s

beet usefulness. It would appear that the advertisement Which would) bo gained by the northern city from having such an establishment in its midst lias appealed more to Auckland than tho consideration of how science can bo most benefited; but tho suggestions for sites which they have so far put forward seem to clash with tho northerners’ own ideas of tho future greatness of their city. Three locations have been indicated, of which two aro within the city boundaries. If Auckland is to grow an its people expect it to do, and as tho rest of tho dominion expects also, tho clear skies that are most needed for an observatory will not long bo supplied (if they are supplied now in the -degree desirable) by that environment. Smoko and dust in increasing measure will bo added to tho disadvantage made already by the humidity of the northern atmosphere. That danger does not threaten Central Otago. Secret, direct diplomacy', tho silence that is golden, and an offer more golden still from its City Council, have won an advantage for Auckland in tho matter of tho Yale establishment; but it is early to say yet that tho advantage will bo conclusive.