THE CARTER BEQUEST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 424, 5 February 1909, Page 6

THE CARTER BEQUEST.

ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH

A LEGAL OPINION. • At.^ the; annual meeting of 'the New Zealand. . Institute /yesterday; air interesting-statement, concerning 'the "Carter Bequesffor an'astrono-' niical., observatory>in -or near-.Wellington' was : made; by the president.'''The funds • of' the ; bequest- now' amount ; to -j02735-,165.-.fid.;' (capital ?> n ,; jnterest), and there- is '.also . script at: the m? b l 1 ? ; ? ru^ t Office,,of. the Talue of.i' 32 ss. sd. ■the following • legal opinion -by - Mr. . 'Martin Chapman; K:U:y was read •— -. : f, have., given the: best' ..consideration' I/can 5 'PfpPosaj laid-'befoie; the Governors and' embodied'-in! a-'-resolution, ".passed by "the' Gov-.- • e EP°Pi 1908,,. tothe • following. effect :r-i-h.at : , the :bpasl;-'.will - agree .to ' .the.'.ek-penaitui-o or the Garter- Bequest in the' pur-chaser-erection, etc., ■ of an- astronomical -tele6cope';and: accessories as proposed by tho deputation.. from . the . Victoria; College, and'.'- allow the same to. be.'Unde'r- th'e control, of.-the,goYern- - iooUege./pn 1 these; conditions: - fi» Jw W £W * observatory:.-, and .other--necessary, biuldmg6-'-are erected' out -of 'otiier .funds; - (2) that a-professor of 'astronomy and staff - be 'appointed; and- .maintained by ;the '.-.Victoria:'. College out of V funds .other, than: .the . Carter:, Be-, quest;.;(3X-that the board be'advised' that the eipenditnre l is;degtfl., ;/' i\-V.V ''I understand tlie wish tomeet .the p and u - tho'-proposats aro not legally in. conformity with: the teriiis ,of thebequest, to endeavour: to obtain/legislative';authority. ': It appears- to.lm'e.'.that the .'be .oarried.;'put '.without;-such -legislative. sanction; . \he ..beqaiesti/ contempla.tes.f.-that: the moiieys shall :formHhe < nucleus of a fraid/-for.-;the:erec-;tipn,|,'in;. or. near-Wellington, ; and.-: ; ,the . ment' of : a professor . ana staff of '-an .astronoimioal:. observatory, ifitted. with .', telescope,. etc., . for,the public luje and'.benefit of the'/D.ominion; It/appears ,:to ; ine.'that : the duty of the -board :is to . retain . the t fuiid,; until: the r same, .is i-so/aug-mented'that ..the'board .can'.biuld ani ! endow an' to,pay : a;professor:; and.' staff. .object appears to ibe- to.*'retain,;the '.observatory,..; telescope, l - and of;.%bd' uiider. : me,.control ,of;- ;the; board.''-' l-The.rpro'vision- asto.:: a .professor; points '.to.. th,e shaving somethingto J do. with. . the Vinstitutibn;- 'and>-:r ■think'it ;\vou.ldvbe-.within':the.-terip3.-.of .the gift •,to;:.allow:;.a:;pr'o'fessor,. of the ' university', the use of.', the-::6bseryatory.,. : : and oven ,to .-pay ;his. salary,- orpart'. ,'of: - his ;salary^' : ;'Bnt;'the, proposal is that the money shall .:b6-,expended, on; a telescope';:only.: to-;.b.e ■ erected, in'anVobservatory.belonging'.to; thei.uni-' :Versity,:^whichs-will:' not. in.-aiiyj/way be : ; the. control--'of..,the /board.. ;The professor", 'and ;his staff' also .witt,.not; anionabfe''to; the' coiir ' trol:. of therefore,' thinK: theipropdsalsCannpt:''be. 'carried ; withpiit lepslative;sancti.on.,:, .The sum'. bequeathed ds so utterly' ;ina'd^uat(s,for,.;cariying-."out-'the'wishes .of V.th'e; testator.; that: ; J think;'the : boird Vwould not., be ' acting; unreasonably -in . coiisehfing,;to' legislation to authorise the. proposed use. If this course ' beadopted, the ; cost of that -legislation . should;»be j provided' outside* - the; fundi ■as I do t not. think it .-would; be' proper.;toVeippiid: any part' ii;pionioting 'suoh: legislation..'/: From; what, ;I:::heari-;Iv think-it,:'-very.-.questionable wh'ether; the- Victoria' 'College vWill-: expend - any' •of/.its'jfunds,in , the and -:maintenance: of? an;observatory, though; it, might,',be/willing l to give one of its professors the namo of professor'. of astronomy.. ' .• : - "(Signed) MAETIN CHAPMAN." ' Tho report. .to''.the: Viotpria; College'; Council.v V- V:'