MAGNETIC SURVEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13226, 11 July 1906, Page 6

MAGNETIC SURVEY.

IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC WORK. [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] Christchurch, Tuesday. Mr. G. T. Heimbroa, of the staff of the Department of International Research in Terrestrial Magnetism, of the Carnegie Institute, of Washington, is at present in Christchurch for the purpose of co-ordinat-ing the magnetic survey instruments with those of the magnetic observatory in Christchurch. Mr. Heimbroa is an old student of the Christchurch School of Mines, and was for some years prior to his acceptance of an engagement with the Carnegie Institute employed in survey- work in different parte of the colony. The institution to the scientific staff of which Mr. Heimbroa- now belongs was founded some years ago by Mr. Carnegie, who endowed it with the sum of 10,000,000 dollars for the purpose of carrying out pure scientific research in all departments of science, and it is largely of an international character. "By co-ordinating my instrument with those here I shall also be co-ordinating them with those of the British Antarctic expedition," Mr. Heimbroa said. " These co-ordinations between various observatories are of great value, because they enable the work in different centres to be reduced to a common basis, and therefore permit of the magnetic field being .more accurately mapped. A magnetic survey of all the ocean areas of the globe is being made. This means that we are engaged upon a survey of threefifths of the unexplored magnetic areas of the globe. I have finished my observations in Fiji, and after I leave Christchurch' I shall go to Tahiti, the Paumotos, and Marquesas Islands. From there I shall return to Auckland,, and go on to Sydney, and thence to. the New Hebrides and Gilbert Islands. The practical importance of the work lies in the fact that it permits of new and accurate charts showing the variation of the compass to be made. At the present time the magnetic charts of (ho Islands are 30 or 40 minutes of the circle out. I hope the New Zealand Government will supply funds generously for the further prosecution of very valuable work." Mr. Heimbroa will remain in Christchurch for about ten days, and will then go to Auckland.