THE YALE TELESCOPE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19045, 15 December 1923, Page 10

THE YALE TELESCOPE.

MAY GO TO SOUTH AFRICA. (FnoM Ode Own Cokeespondent.) WELLINGTON, December 14. The annual report of tho New Zealand Astronomical Society contains tho following reference to the location of the Yale telescope:—During the year the society has had much discussion and correspondence relating to the Yale University scheme for co-operating with New Zealand in establishing an observatory in this country. On July 19 a deputation from the sociotv waited on tho Prime Minister and elicited his strong sympathy with tho scheme, and the promise of a favourable recommendation to the Cabinet. A generous donor, Mr Horatio Massey, promised to give £SOOO on condition that tho telescope should bo placed in the South Island. Meanwhile, however, the city of Auckland ottered the University of Yale up to £3OOO towards an observatory to bo built in that city, and the Yale authorities have now taken stops to secure tho observations necessary for testing tho visual conditions of that site. It has boon recognised for years that no reliable information exists relating to the steadiness and visual definition at any point in New Zealand. A Government promise of funds for tho testing of sites was nullified by tho sudden financial crisis in 1921, and when the renewal of tho promise of funds was received last September the society had tho mortification to find this offer again withdrawn owing to (he closure of the arrangements between Yale and Auckland. In Wellington and in Nelson the testing of sites by Mr Hudson and Messrs Gibbs and Morley respectively, has been going on for some months, and it is gratifying to find such competent observers willing to do this work voluntarily, but it is greatly to bo regretted that a comprehensive testing of the most promising site in Now Zealand has not yet been undertaken. Owing to this absence of information, the Yale authorities, in the event of the Auckland site proving unsatisfactory, will have no alternative but to go to South Africa.