THE RECORD REIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10427, 27 April 1897, Page 6

THE RECORD REIGN.

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS.

PROPOSED SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATORY.

Amongst the suggestions made for permanently commemorating the Record Reign of the Queen is that of establishing a properly equipped scientific observatory in Auckland. In order to obtain a competent opinion on the subject, a Hebald representative yesterday waited upon Mr. Cheeseman at the Auckland Museum.

"There are two kindi of observatories that may be established," said Mr. Cheeseman, when asked for his views," A meteorological and astronomical. I have not paid much attention to the question of the latter, but as to meteorological one, there ia no doubt that the present site of the instruments is net at all satisfactory. They are not complete, and they are not placed in a proper position." " What do you suggest is required? "Todo the thing properly there should be a small enclosure in an open space, in the precincts of the town, say in the Albert Park, or in the paddock at the rear of Government House. By an open space I mean a fenced in enclosure, of perhaps 20 feet square, at a distance from all buildings and tall trees. In this space there should be an observatory building with thermometers in special I.< ■ /re screene, the wind gauge or anemometer, rain gauge, the terrestrial thermometers, sunshine register, and other instruments. It is pretty well admitted now that the roof of a building is not a proper place on which to put instruments. Consequently the position we now have on the roof of the Museum is faulty. Therefore I say the first requisite would be the oren space of which I have spoken, fenced off to prevent the incursions of larrikins." " Would a caretaker be required!" "Why? Such is not required in other towns, and I do not see why it could not be done here." " What do you think the coat would be f" "Not very great. The cost of getting instruments for a first-class station, such as Auckland should be, would not be very great, probably not more than £300-" "What benefits, from a public point of view, would be derived from auoh an observatory!" " First of all," was the reply, " there would be the preparation of statistics, so as to put nn record what the climate of the station really is. You would ascertain the rainfall, the average temperature; then there would be the bearing of the olimate on the growth of crops, If you know what the climate of a country is you are able to came to a conclusion at once as to what plants can be cultivated; pretty nearly all plants can only live within a certain range of temperature. Then, of courw, there oomes the question of working with other stations so as to give warning of the approach of storms, That is tho part of the subject which would appeal most strongly to the general public. That, however, cannot be don* by observations taken at one station alone for the progress of atmospheric disturbance has to be traced," " As to an astronomical observatory ?" " I am inclined to think the time has not arrived for that, Iu the first place, it would be an exceedingly expensive thing to manage, and would involve thousands of pounds, besides the appointment of several trained observers at high salaries. Ido not think we have got to that yet, but there should be meteorological observations at Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, and Christckuroh."

We have received the following correspondence on the celebration of Her M»je»ty's Diamond Jubilee. PROPOSED STATUE TO SIR GEORGE GREY. "Loyal and Grateful" writes : "The erection of a child's hospital, convalescent home, or mi iieylum for the blind to commemorate the 60th year of the refen of Her Majeaty the Queen, hart each much to be said in their favour, and anv one of whioh would, I believe, meet with the approval of our benevolent and kind-hearted Queen. I venture to make a ingestion which I think would equally meet with the approval of Her afford the people of Aucklaud an opportunity to acknowledge their indebtedness and express their gratitude to one of their greatest benefactors. My suggestion is the erection of a bronze statue to Sir George Grey. It ii well known that the Queen has ix great personal regard for the veteran statesman, and acknowledge the services of her great Pro-Consul. Few statesmen h%ve done us much to extend the possessions of the Empire, and none have done more than Sir G. Grey, iiy his able administration, wise laws, nud constitutions to consolidate the colonial possessions of Her Gracious Majesty. For these and many other reasons which I might mention, I believe the erection of a ttatue to Sir G. Grey would afford gratification to the Queen. I would suggest the allotment* lying between Lome and Coburg-streeta be aciuired, tastefully laid nut And planted, aim in the midst, facing Wcllesley-street, the statue should be erected. Failing to secure a gift of the land the city might very justly buy the property, and by doing so remove an eyesore to every visitor to the Public Library, and vastly improve the approach to the park and Municipal Buildings. It is quite unnecessary to remind the men and women of Auckland of the cluims Sir George Grey has upon their gratitude. The gift of a noble library of rare manuscripts and books, together with works of art is only one of the benefits conferred on the city and the irihnhitiuite.of which more than of all other cities in the colony he loves best. I estimate that £1500 would be sufficient to curry out my suggestion, and surely there are 100 citizens who would contribute from £10 to £5 eacli: 1000 who would spare 10s each ; and say 2000 who would avail themselves of the opportunity of contributing from 5a to Is to discharge what may be aaid to be a public duty. Our city is behind most colonial cities in statues or other marks of appreciation of public benefactors, and the present it an opportunity that should be grasped to mark our appreciation of a great and a good man, and commemorate an event unique in the history of nations.

"Children's Hospital" writes: — "From Home papers received, I notice that funds for commemorating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee are being largely subscribed for the endowment or enlargement of children's hospitals, infirmaries, and such like laudable objects. At Glasgow, it is proposed to spend from £100,000 to £150,000 in enlarging the Royal Infirmary in that city, and in England large suins are being donated for children's hospitals, etc. I see that a public meeting is to take place in order to decide in what form the Diamond Jubilee shall be celebrated in Auckland. Now these public meetings are not altogether to be depended on. At political meetings, for a five-pound note, a success or a failure could be predicted timely :-Have always at command a down or so of men with thirsty throats and strong lungs, and for a few pints of beer they will hoot or applaud vigorously as desired, the men being judiciously distributed throughout the building, yet within sight of their chief giving the signals. Now, the last public meeting that 1 attended was in St. James' Hall, the object being a marble statue. Numerous speakara of both sexes addressed the meeting, and having a fine now of speech carried everything before them. But, alas I when the touohstone of sincerity was applied the donations, subscriptions, or contributions were of the most costive character. The speeches were allopathic, but the responses were in homoeo-. patnic doses. At the coming meeting it is quite likely that some one will propose anew ' hike' track or a new grandstand at Potter's Paddock, but thoae who provide the major part of the funds should have the biggest say as to the disposal thereof. Our beloved Queen > will always be kuown as 'Queen Victoria,' and we don't want any additional tails to her name, such as' the Wise, , ' the Good,'' the Fortunate/etc. The idea is til presumptive bunkum."

THE INSTITUTE FOR THE BUND. Permit me through your column* to express an opinion on proposals to commemorate our Gracious Sovereign's diamond year It appeari tome that'those proposing to do something to alleviate suffering are most' worthy nt attention. Works of art and civic embellishments may be left to our succeisori, who will have material and power at command better than we have. Of the proposals that of Mr. John Abbott, in your issue of the 13th, appeari to me the best. To solidify the work done ten years ago at the Queen's W* Any o " 6 , vwitlng the Institute for the Blind at Parnell may notice that the house occupied by muterand matron isold, In* few years it mutt be renewed. The boys' dormitories are fituated forty yards from the residence-a long walk in a wintry night to visit and attend a sick boy. This the matron ha*.»? of fire wisely led to the buildings being remote from one another. Visiting the Institute yesterday I schemed an imaginary- plan of a brick bnildini, froutiox the street, muter and matron's rooms, show and salerooms in the centre, boy/ dormitories on one side, girls'dormitories pu.the other. A substantial building would be Mfajtmniuf to mark the sixtieth y«»FJ> f , our . Sovereign's reign. The master, Mr. Tighe. informs* me that several adalu though blind, they wen confident they could make a livid* for themselves. A higher testimonial to the utility of the luttUutt could not be glveQ.-J»ti» JUhr.

"One Who Sees" writes:-I have read with considerable interest in your issue of this morning the arguments put forth by Mr. John Abbott in support ot» commemorative brick buildiug for the Blind Inatitute. All the other proposals already suggested have, of course, merits to warrant them sympathy, but the moat meritorious is, I think, the permanent building for the blind. If all the proposals could be given effect to, it would be well, but it is clear that our efforts must be concentrated only in some one most worthy object. The approaching record celebration is an occasion for a spontaneous outburst of popular beneficence rather than the establishment or extension of merely iu■titutiona of the Stat*. The Blind Institute is essentially an institution of purely popular beneficence. Iα the uear future regard will have to be had to the necessity tor a home for the indigent blind of all ages, as well as for the industrial blind as at present. Its inmates are perhaps the most helpless of tho afflicted, and I trust public sympathy and support will attach itself to Mr. Abbott's proposal of securing the blind beyond danger and disaster, and placing the home of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind in a building that like the record reign of our good and great Queen will last tor all time.