ASTRONOMICAL WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17663, 27 December 1920, Page 6

ASTRONOMICAL WORK.

BOARD OF ADVICE ADVOCATED. There are at present four astro nomical Bocicties jn New Zealand—one at Wangamii, one at Dunedin, one at 'Wellington, and one at .New Plymouth. Theise bodies, urges Dr. C. E. Adams (Govemrneat Astronomer), should have some official recognition in the Astronomical Department of the Dominion, as their co-operation has always been of value to the observatory. He suggests, therefore, that the New Zealand Astronomical Society and the New 1 Zealand Institute should be the nominat--1 ing bodies for an Observatory Board of ' Scientific Advice. This method of nominat- ' fog the board would follow the precedent of 1 that in operation in England, where the ' Board of Visitors of the Royal Observa- ' lory at Greenwich is composed of seven ' Fellows of the Royal Society, seven .Pel- ' lows of the Royal Astronomical Society, : the Cambridge and the Oxford University ; Professors of Astronomy, and tb'J Hydro--1 grapher to the Admiralty. 'lire- New Zcai land Observatory Board might, therefore. be composed of three members nominated ! bv the New Zealand Institute, three mem--1 bers nominated by the New Zealand ' Astronomical Society, and the Naval ; Adviser to the Government. '' The- functions of such a board would be * —(1) To advise the Minister on obserya- ' tory matters; (2) to consider and advise [ upon the reports of the Government Astronomer. i WELLINGTON OBSKRVATOK-Y. The effects of the war on the Welling- ' ton observatory have been most serious, t, states Dr, Adams, Government astronomer, in his annual report. All. building operations were suspended. The msed tor 1 accommodation is most urgent, as rooms • are wanted for offices, library, teismo- , graphs, clocks, wireless telegraphy, con- - stant-temperature room, record-room, and i storeroom, etc. New clocks cf high pre--3 eision were authorised before the war, but a have not yet been obtained, 'the whole v equipment'has bad to await overhaul and - bringing up to date. Much of it dates i from 1868, and urgently requires atten--1 tion. 'The need for some addition to the 1 Dcientific staff has become insistent, and ii the recent inauguration of the wireless t time service rnake3 this important public utility dependent entirely on the health I of one officer besides limiting his, activities if to Wellington, when be should bo enabled J to carry out astronomical work it) other .. parts of the Dominion. 1