EDITORIAL COMMENT.

Progress, Volume VI, Issue 2, 1 December 1910, Page 465

EDITORIAL COMMENT.

Wanted —An Observatory. An astronomical section of the Wellington Philosophical Sociey has recently been formed, having for its objects the associating together of those who are interested in the science of astronomy, and particularly in an endeavour to get for Wellington a properly equipped Observatory. In this : matter the section is very anxious to gather funds to supplement a bequest of the late Mr. C. R. Carter, an old Wairarapa settler, who gave his name to Carterton. The following is an extract from his will:— "As to the residue and remainder (if any) of the said net proceeds of the sale conversion and getting in of my estate aforesaid, my Trustee shall transfer the same to the Governors for the time being of the New Zealand Institute at Wellington, to form the nucleus of a fund for the erection in or near Wellington aforesaid, ™ and the endowment of a Professor and Staff, of an Astronomic Observatory fitted with Telescope and the suitable instruments for the public use and benefit of the Colony and in the hope that such fund may be augmented by gifts from private ■ ■:■■ donors and. that the Observatory may be subsidised by the Colonial .Government and without imposing any duty or obligation in regard thereto. I would indicate

my wish that the Telescope may be obtained from the factory of Sir H. Grubb in Dublin." The sum he left has accumulated in the hands of the Public Trustee, and now amounts to about £3OOO, and is under the control of the Governors of the New Zealand Institute. It is a goodly sum, enough to build and equip with good instruments an Observatory, but it will not do to expend that sum, or, indeed, to have an Observatory unless there is also an endowment so that 'a competent man can be put in charge and real work be done, as well as enabling the public to have the pleasure of observing some of the wonders of the Heavens through a large telescope., So the members of the section will gladly receive any donations towards the object, and will be particularly glad to enrol as new members those wishing to help in the work. Any member of the Philosophical Society can be attached to the section, and it is hoped that some who have not yet joined the Society will do so. ■' The section has been duly formed, has its Council and officers. Mr. C. P. Powles is President and Treasurer, and Mr. A. C. Gifford Secretary. Pending the acquisition of a large telescope, the section is able to make use of a good '5-inch glass by Cook, or York, but it requires housing, and funds are wanted,for the purpose. It is probable that the use of a small building near the Hector Observatory might be obtained, but this will require to be enlarged and to have a revolving dome. . The objects of the section surely must commend themselves to many; there must surely be those who. are interested_ in science, and no science is more interesting or discloses greater wonders and beauties than astronomy, and though to understand its depths requires great knowledge of mathematics, there is much that those who do not possess that knowledge can understand and enter into, and the veriest amateur who gets hold of a telescope and observes carefully with it, not only derives great pleasure and profit from the study, but may make discoveries.

The Council of the Royal Astronomical Society of England, in their report for 1828, said, "Every one who possesses an instrument whose claims rise even not above a humble mediocrity, has it in ins power to chalk out for himself a useful and honourable line of occupation for leisure hours in which his labour shall be really valuable; if duly registered; those who possess good instruments have a field absolutely boundless for their exertions."

A good telescope with an object glass of three inches in diameter, with which much can be seen and done, can be obtained now for £l3. This proves that if the goodwill be there, the Observatory, will very soon be there also. • ; r