THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2047, 29 September 1874, Page 3

THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.

; (New Zealand Times, Sept. 22.) Late in the session an interesting series of papers relative to the transit of Venus across the disc of the sun, which will take place on Dec. 8, was presented to both Houses of Parliament by the command of his Excellency the Governor. By these we see that the subject of an observation of this character in JS'ew Zealand received the attention of scientific men at Home, and of the authorities there, as early as the year 1874. Then the Astronomer Eoyal pointed out to the Secretary of State fpr the Colonies that it had been considered desirable there should be an observation in the Australian seas, and he had had under consideration which would be the best site. The Tasmanian Government had suggested Hobart Town, but he considered Auckland would be preferable, and Christen urch still more so. If, however, the New Zealand Government had a preference for Auckland, the observation could be made there An objection to ilobart Town was the uncertainty of the longitude of that place, the Government not having then seen the propriety of having it exactly determined. At that time there was a little difficulty in respect to longitudes in New Zealand, these having been calculated from tables in the Nautical Almanac, then discovered to be inaccurate ; but care had been taken for determining that at Wellington, and from it others could be calculated by means of the telegraph line. Indeed, Sir G. B. Airey subsequently alluded to this in flattering terms, saying that " unusual value would attach to observations" made at various stations in New Zealand, "in consequence of ihe admirable system which had been adopted, of connecting the longitudes of the principal settlements by the galvanic telegraph." Christchurch, therefore, was decided upon for the English Government party to make an observation, and the principal instruments provided are a six-inch equatorial telescope, a four-inch o c, an altozinouth, a transit instrument, a photographic heliograph, clocks, etc. The minimum of equipment at the places where private observations may be made, is a four-inch telescope and a clock. Dr Hector, who seems to have had to make most of the arrangements, suggested that Archdeacon Stock, of Wellington, ahouid be communicated

with in respect to furnishing instruments for a local observation ; also, Vlr Karkeek, of Wairarapa; Mr Heal, of Auckland; and Mr J. S. Thompson, of Dunedin. The desirability of observations being made at various points is obvious, on account of the uncertainty of the weather which might cause one locality to be unsuitable at the particular time when the observations should be madf • The exact spot ehosrn for the observation of the English Government to be made at is on an isolated hill, seven mili-s in a southerly direction from Cbristiburch, on some property belonging to the Hon E. W. Stafford. Dr Hector says that it is on the point of a long spur, running westward from .Banks' Peninsula, and it commands to within a few degrees the horizon in all directions. It wis selected in preference to any place nearer Christchurch in the hope of escaping the mirage that is so frequent on the plains in summer afternoons during hot north-west winds, and to avoid the sea fog that at night covers the hills on the Peninsula and on the seaward slope in summer. A road and telegraph line are about a quarter of a mile away, and from these a wire will be stretched, so that there may be communication between the clocks of the observers and that of the Government party. The Colonial Government erects the observatory huts, and makes the necessary communication, but the total coßt is not computed by Dr Hector to be more than about £300. Meteorological observations during the past seven years of the state of weather in the month of December had shown that :at Auckland there had been an average of fifteen rainy days in the month, of fourteen at Dunedin, of twelve at Wellington, of nine at Christchurch, and of nine at Nelson. Thiß information had been sought by the Astronomer Eoyal, by the United States authorities, and doubtless by others from the English Government, to whom it had been communicated. The importance attached to the matter is demonstrated by the fact that expeditions have been fitted out to make observations by almost every civilised Government, the United Stateß sending Beveral into the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The object sought is, as most of our readers will be aware, to determine the exact; distance of the sun from the earth, which can be done if the observation be accurately made, recorded, and calculated from. Major Palmer, R.E., will be the officer in charge of the Imperial party at Ohristchuroh ; and tho colony is to be congratulated on the fact that he will be ably co-operated with by local savans. No doubt the telegraph department will also render able and valuable services to all parties concerned. The conduct of the Provincial authorities of Christchurch in the matter is worthy of aIT praise. Early in 1872 the Superintendent . wrote to the Colonial Secretary for any information that could be given to him, either by Dr Hector or anyone else, that he might act upon. Without being aware of the intention of the Astronomer Royal to despatch a party to New Zealand^ a number of Christchuroh ■ gentlemen had met, and formed a sort of Philosophical Society for the purpose of obtaining the erection of an observatory, for which they thought the great expanse of the Canterbury Plainß, and the clearness of the atmosphere, rendered the site very desirable. The Superintendent recommended his Council to vote £1000 for the building, and to procure the necessary apparatus, and also that the institution should be endowed with 5000 acres of land. The Council were agreeable to vote £1000 for establishing the observatory, and £200 for the purchase of the site, on condition that the Colonial Government should undertake the future maintenance of the institution. There -the correspondence breaks off, but the fact remains that a number of gentlemen promised to become annual subscribers and to give donations towards the first cost. From tho proceedings of the Superintendent, and tho interest he took in the matter from the first, it is quite clear that he will afford the Imperial party all the assistance that lies in his power. The fact remains to his credit, and it is one we are glad to have an opportunity of recording. There is such a disposition on the part of some public men to view all matters from a narrow, local, and provincial point of view, that it is a satisfaction to find one acting as if New Zealand were not a mere isle in the Southern Ocean, but a portion of an empire, containing vast interests, and institutions of wonderful magnitude and importance. The result of the observations here, to which the Astronomer Royal attaches so much importance, will be looked forward to with the most lively interest ; and in contributing to it, our local savans may remember with feelings not unmixed with pride, that they are co-operating in a work the importance of which has been recognised all over the world, by the highest authorities. They will be working, shoulder to shoulder, with men of the highest scientific reputation.