METEOROLOGICAL BUREAU.

Otago Witness, Issue 3831, 16 August 1927, Page 15

METEOROLOGICAL BUREAU.

ARRIVAL OF NEW DIRECTOR

W IILLIXGTOX, August 10. Dr E. Kidson, M.A., I).Sc., 0.8. E. who was recently appointed director of the Dominion Meteorological Office, arrived m Wellington from Melbourne ’by the Manuka this afternoon. At the' time of his appointment to New Zealand Dr Kidson was supervising meteorologist and assistant director ot the Commonwealth Meteoiological service. - Dr Kidson, who has won for himseli a very wide reputation in his profession, is a member of a well-known Nelson and Christchurch family, and is a brothei of Mr 11. I*. Kidson. princinal of the Hutt Vailey High School, Mr G. 11. Kidson, headmaster of the Kelburn Normal School, and Mr IT. T. Kidson. assistant secretary of the Nelson Hospital Board. lie was educated at Nelson ami Canterbury Col leges, and. after a successful educational career, lie was awarded the degree of D.Sc. by the University of New Zealand for researches in meteorology. In 1903 he was appointed to the staffed the Carnegie Institute, Washington, and until 1914 he worked on magnetic surveys ' i South America, Newfoundland, at sea, and also in .Australia. During his two years at sea on the scientific cruising steamer Carnegie he made the observations for the navigation of the vessel. From 1915 to 1919 he was on active service with he meteorological section of the Royal Engi neers. He developed the forecasting service and 'he application of meteorology to gunnery’ for the Salonica forces, and for his successful work he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the 0.8. E.

In 1919, Dr Kidson was appointed to the Watheroo Observatory, in Western Australia, and was subsequently promoted to the position of assistant director of the Commonwealth Meteorological Service. Dr Kidson is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, and was, until he accepted his present appointment, a member of the Australian- National Research Council.

AIMS OF NEW DIRECTOR. WELLINGTON, August IL “ An important factor in the improvement and development along scientific lines of a (Meteorological Bureau in Now

Zealand would be the receipts of reports regularly from Australia and the Tasman Sea,” declared Dr E. Kidson this morning. “The T >eo l > ’ c as a whole in Australia,” he said. “ take a very keen interest in meteorology, and have much knowledge, on the subject. The meteorological service there is a very important public utility, and is highly efficient. All the large daily papers, and many of the smaller ones, too, publish every-day charts and forecasts, the latter being both Continental and local. These are broadcasted several times a day, in addition to which all the post offices exhibit bulletins as regards the meteorological conditions. Flood warnings are issued when necessary, records being displayed of the heights of the various rivers; and ocean forecasts are also issued. Besides the daily records monthly and annual summaries are compiled covering a wide range.

“9 he weather, more especially' the rainfall, is of the utmost importance to the Australian,’ Dr Kidson went on to say. “ Even more so. perhaps, is this the ease than it is in New Zealand which enjoys a more equable climate; but the importance to lhe Dominion and any other country of a highly- efficient meteorological _ .service cannot be over-esti-mated. ’J hat this importance is realised in Australia is shown by the fact that there all telegrams and wireless messages relating to meteorology are sent free of charge.”

The new director concluded by exposing the hope that he would have t-he cooperation of the newspapers and of the public. That he would have the willing co-operation of the Australian meteorological service he was quite sure, and he was looking forward to being able to assist in placing the Dominion meteorological service on a basis which would be ot increased value to the country.