EARTH’S MAGNETISM

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11255, 6 July 1922, Page 2

EARTH’S MAGNETISM

'LECTURE BY DR L. A. BAUER iKEiW ZEALANDER'S CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENCE!. INTERESTING BEST AILS. In a lecture on "The Earth's Magnetism and Electricity," delivered before tlie Wellington Philosophical Society, Dr C. K Adams presiding, Dr Louis A. Bauer, Director of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, gave a general account of the earth’s magnetic and electric phenomena. In particular he referred to Die important magnetic work which has already been accomplished in New Zealand by Professors Farr and Skey, of Christchurch. This work is now tinder the charge of the Director-General of Survey. Mr W. T. Neale, who participated in the early observations of that party. Reference was also made to the magnet:.© observatory work now being conducted at Christchurch Observatory and at the Samoan Observatory, under the auspices of the New Zealand Government. Dr Bauer's department is co-operating with New’ Zealand in magnetic work, both at the observatories and with regard to the magnetic survey of the entire country. Oryj of the members of his staff, Mr D. Coleman, was recently in New Zealand, and- re-occupied some of the magnetic survey stations in order to determine the «amount of change in the compass direction and other elements—information required by hydrographic establishments in | order to keep up to date the charts of |the lines of equal magnetic variation used by mariners. HAEfITFS MAGNETIC SURVEY. Under the auspices of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, through its Department of Terrestrial Macnetism, a general magnetic survey of the earth is In progress in co-operation with various countries interested in such •work. Over 100 expeditions have been sent out to unexplored parts of the globe since 1904, and two vessels have been engaged in magnetic work pn the oceans. 300,000 MILE® CRUISB.

The first vessel employed was the Galilee, which during 1905-S made cruises in the Pacific Ocean to the extent of 65,000 miles, one of her ports of call being Lyttelton. In 1909 the well-known nonmagnetic ship, Carnegie, was constructed spsciallv for the ocean work, and with tier a cruise, between 1609 and 1921, to the, extent of 300,0C0 miles had been made. During that period the Carnegie has called tw-ice at Port Lyttelton. Dr Bauer especially mentioned the courtesies at Lvttelton and at Christchurch to the scinetific staffs of the Galilee and the Carnegie. While at Lyttelton, the instruments used aboard these two vessels were compared with those of the Christchurch Observatory and. in charge of Mr H. F. Skey, and in this manner the magnetic work of the Carinegie Institution and of the Government , of" New Zealand was correlated and reduced to a common basis.

VALUE OF NEW ZEALAND WORK. Mr Bauer Is on his'return to Washington from Rome, where attended last May the international scinetific conference on astronomy and geophysics. As 'oil indication of the appreciation of the ‘delegates present at the Rome meeting lof ■ international sections of terrestrial magnetism and electricity of the action taken by the New Zealand Government in continuing the Samoan Observatory, established by the Germans in 1902, the following resolution was passed : —"That the steps already taken by the Nerv_ Zealand Government regarding the continuation of the A-pia Observatory in Samoa are highly commended, and it is hoped that the New Zealand Government may find' it possible 'to provide for the continued full activities of the observatory.” WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY AFFHCTEID. Tho Samoa Observatory, because of its uniaue location, is enabled to contribute most important data- Pertaining to terrestrial magnetism, seismology, meteorology, and atmospheric electricity. The changes in the earth’s magnetism in all parts of the earth are required for correcting from time to time the mariners’ charts of the lines of equal magnetic variation. Furthermore, the fluctuations of the electrical conditions of the atmosphere are of importance to wireless telegraphists. Dr Bauer’s department has Teeently established a magnetic observatory' at Watheroo, Western Australia, and is at preesnt also erecting a similar observe, tory in Peru. At the former, arrange, monts 'have also been made for obtaining a record of the- fluctuations in the electrical currents flowing through the earth's crust. These fluctuations, during periods of magnetic storms, may be sufficiently severe to seriously interrupt telegraphic transmission, as occurred, for example, in Australia and New Zealand as well as in the Northern Hemisphere, during the middle of May, 1921.

NEW ZEALANDER AT THIS POLE. Two New Zealanders have been members of Dt Bauer's stafl at various times, namely Mr E. Kidd and Mr Eric Webb, who is at present living in Wellington. Both gentlemen are graduates, of Canterbury College, Christchurch. Mr AVebb, while connected with the Mawbon Arctic expedition, made a sledge trip to the magnetic pole, and succeeded -in getting within 40 miles of the precise location, thus coming closer than any other explorer. In conclusion Dr Baner einressed the appreciation of tho Carnegie Institution, end of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, in particular, 'for the many courtesies extended, more especially by the New Zealand Goverment and the scientific establishments, and by the universities’ staffs at Wellington and Christchurch,