STUDIES OF THE SKY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10811, 29 January 1921, Page 7

STUDIES OF THE SKY

NATIONAL OBSERVATORY DR C. E. ADAMS STRESSES URGENT NEED. THE OFFER FROM YALE. By Telegraph.—Special to “Times.” PALMERSTON N., January 28. At the Science .Congress Dr C. EAdams, Government Astronomer, addressed the congress upon the question of a national observatory and referred to New Zealand’s Unique position in the Southern Hemisphere for the pursuance of the astronomical science. The number of observatories in this hemisphere, he said, is far too small, and the results based on studies of the sky are naturally unsound until the observations of the sou them heav ena are more complete. The Yale University was as-, sisting by offering some valuable instruments. In 1913 Miss Mary Proctor, a Fellow of the Roy 111 Astronomical Society, London, visited New. Zealand with the object of raising tumiy for a solar observatory. Her interesting lectures are still remembered and ,a small fund is held in Wellington, made up. from the proceeds of lectures and other donations. This fund is to be devoted to a “Proctor Library,” which should, ultimately find a home in the national observatory. While in Nelson Miss Mary Proct-or met the late Mr Thomas Cawthron', and he was so interested in her mission that he wrote to her offering to build and endow a solar observatory, at Nelcon and to provide £12,000, for this purpose. To satisfy himself that Nelson was a suitable place for a solar observatory Mr Cawthron obtained -the services of Mr John Eyershed; F.R.S., the celebrated Indian solar authority. Mr Ever shed spent a month or twp testing different sites near, and in, th,<? city off. Nelson, and reported favourably on a site on the Port Hills. Mr iCawthron thereupon. had a, deed engrossed in which he agreed to provide the sum of £30,000 for a solar observatory. This deed was ready for signature before the war broke but. Mr Cawthron purchased a site bn the. Port Hills for a solar observatory, and accepted the gift .of an adjoining property for the same purpose, but unfortunately his death in 1915 occurred, he-, fore he. signed the trust-deed. The bulk of his estate, some £250,000,\ was left to found the Cawthron Institute at Nelson, and it is confidently expected, that some of these' funds will oe .devoted to the science of astronomy in which Mr Cawthron showed such, a keen interest- , The congress, concluded its. work this afternoon and students and visitors- took part in a conversazione in the. evening.