THE YALE TELESCOPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18534, 19 October 1923, Page 9

THE YALE TELESCOPE.

iraiGorrATioNs RECOUNTED.

'OFFER MADE 70 AUCKLAND

CONDITIONS OF AGREEMENT.

CITY'S PROMPT ACCEPTANCE

Tho action taken by the Auckland City Council in an effort to 'have the large Yale telescope located in this city was reviewed ' last evening by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, in a report to the council in which he detailed the negotiations between the council . and the authorities of Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. '" .'.-..

• Mr. Gunson said the question first came under the notice of the council of the Auckland Institute' and Museum in April last, when that body referred the matter to the City Council for consideration. Tho City Council considered an offer made in a letter from the director of the Yale Observatory, dated February 6, and decided to accept the offer forthwith. Negotiations have been concluded with Yale, and were now subject only to confirmation following the completion of observation tests of the Auckland sites.

l Offer to Government Two Years Ago. In the letter from the director quoted, it was stated that the Yale authorities were desirous of putting a large photographic refractor, in the Southern Hemisphere and on a site where not only tho astronomical conditions were favourable but also where the observers would find congenial surroundings. ,On these accounts the choice seemed to have narrowed down to New Zealand or South Africa. A proposal had been made to the New Zealand Government about two years ago, and while the Government had expressed itself as being very favourably inclined to enter .into co-operation, it had been learned from several sources that prospects for reasonably prompt action were not very good, and could not be expected, to improve iii the near future in view of the financial condition of the Government. ■, Explaining the proposal tho letter stated that the telescope would be of 25 or 26 inches aperture and of long focal length. Only such a telescope was capable of attacking efficiently certain problems that depended for their solution on the accurate 'measurement of star places,. Most important was the determination of the distances of stairs, and next the determination of the motions of faint stars. There was no telescope in the Southern Hemisphere or, indeed, outside of the north temperate zone capable of undertaking such researches, so that the telescope contemplated would occupy a field by itself that would make it in certain important respects one of the most useful telescopes at the disposal of astronomV. Yale intended to spend at least £9600 on this undertaking, which .would include a complete telescope and auxiliary apparatus necessary for the work in. view. The definite programme in the Southern Hemisphere would require the use of only approximate] half the time of the telescope, and it was thought it would be advantageous from every point of view if some plan of co-operation could be carried out that would enable this valuable telescone to be used!. whenever the sky was clear, instead of merely half the time. Two observers would be sent, am the proposal was that the • co-operating part/ should erect a suitable building m which to house the telescope, and should have the use of v the instrument approximately half the time. . ,: • /■ After discussing minor detail* the Yale authorities asked to be advised as promptly as possible, as to the chances of Lh an arrangement being carried out at Auckland. < ■.'.•',

Little Doubt About Suitability. _ - "If- will therefore be seen at this point," continued Mr.. Gun** , tha Auckland was in receipt of a Proposal from Yale, following the failure of other authorities to. accept the offer .Yah) which had earlier been submitted to them. Various cablegrams passed between Auckland Yak, and also commumca ions •by mail which culminated in the contract beh£ definitely f concluded, subject, as stated, to the sufficient y satisfactory atmospheric conditions being established by the tests now being carried,, out With tie Vale instrument sent ; aown for the purpose and about which there appears to. be little doubt '■ . '.] : ' „; c "Warding the terms of the provisionai contract between the i Auck and City Council and-the Yale Observatory authorities, the chief conditions are:— .-. ■■• ''The Yale authorities are to .provide a telescope complete and such auxili try apparatus !i as may be necessary;; for the work in view. Such telescope -to be. ot 25 or 26 inches apperture and # of long focal ! length. The Yale authorities also to undertake the care and upkeep of the -■ instrument at Auckland, and to locate observers at Auckland.; for six: months, m "Ti§"Anckland authorities -to." erect the observatory on a site at Auckland to be selected by the Yale authorities, atid to maintain the same also to.prcy.do a caretaker for the building, the AucWid authorities to have the right of the use of the instrument half the time,; and full information regarding all v the .work to bo available for the Auckland authorities." " . - ' .:. i

Provision for Acquiring Instrument. . '' The- contract under the terms set down, ' said the Mayor, would be for a period of 10 c- 20 years at the option of the Yale authorities. The agreement would;- set. down . the terms under which either party might acquire at the termination of each ten-year period the interests of the ether if so desired. The full equipment for the experiments telescope forwarded by the Yale authorities upon the completion of the negotiations had come to hand and the necessary work of observing lor the report upon the conditions , at Auek- . land would bo carried out during the next four months by members of the Auckland Astronomical Society. It would be noted, said Mr. Gunson, that the choice of the site for the observatory in this city rested with the - Yale authorities, but .it was probable the choice would be between the Auckland Domain and Mount Hobson, either of which would be. acceptable to if he City Council. Further advices were expected shortly from Yale. • _ , The reper'- was adopted, and former oerisions in connection with the negotiations confirmed, • members, congratulating the Mavor on the part -he had played in bringing the "negotiations 'to the present patisfactory point. - : '~.;.■.■■■ -V]