METEOROLOGICAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 660, 10 November 1909, Page 7

METEOROLOGICAL.

SOLAR OBSERVATORY IN, AUSTRALIA. (By Telesraph.-Press Assoclatioa.-OopyricbU ' ; t Melbourne, November 9. (/ Tho Foderal Cabinot has approved a Eoneme for'.Eubmusion to Parliament fan tho m&inteh*! anco of a solar observatory. Tho Prime Minietcr, Mr.' iDeakin, states Uiat the construction and equipment of the obsorvatory will cost about .£50,000, and ho considers it probable that one or more wealthy Australians vrill tindortake this cost. ' , i

iA 'well-atterided' meeting, having /'for its: ot* : v j; ' jeot support to ii movement,ior:the. /,.,,•, ment or a' solar:observatory.<in'Australia, "wad'.,>y. held in.tho Melbourne Town Hall 'on ■ October ;/ i; 26. The;Governor-General,:ttt©'Earl:o{J)ndley.' <7 presided,. and there 'was also, present, the} State, ; ,'■■,'.'■.;: Governor',' (Sir Thomas Giieon-Cirmiohael).;,X ; : :■ ;Lord' Dudley, , ; in-openingi, the iprooeeduiga, j j><; Stated' that the great'reason ifi'favour• of tho,;',>4 establishment of .a well-equipped; solar, obser- ■;'.■:>: vatory in the.' Commonwealth 'arose' , . fromKthoVi.v!., geographical, position,wMob seemed .to taaik : ( out Australia as: moat .suited :.to, fill .the Rap - ;VV : which at. present Gristed: in the: chain;of ,ot! 'V'i i servatoriea round tho'earth. 'It had , been:^••..'.'■'!j : ; v timated that, a minimum capital;expenditure ,:-/', of. .£IO,OOO would be ■required, and .that- the 'i; , ; maintenance Would' involve ah annual expen- ['■> ;,';,; diture of at least \ JD1500; -Nonmore, notable. ;:•:,'. movement could be raised:,to,theVn\omqry. of : :»i: .t •. great Australian,'by his friends;'and.'relatiyee-;^.'■,?;.; • than tho endowment /in/'whole'; or-'part' of ; ;iv v,Sv solar observatory. < ; It';■ would bo littie 'ehort of i;.: "i' a national i'misfortune if,, for./,the, eako- ofvaiy.V.S': few: thousand pounds./ Australia/failed -to' the place amongst the.nations of. the/world: in'/./ 7:/ scientific'research'for,', which hor .geographical; '■■'>CS position marked lier^'out^^iTliie-country ■'s&s:■;:% peered-'destined -by- nature: for thi work, ajicl fr ,:v it was doubtful , whether'it could.; be .done; aßy-.-S-v.;,' whorb else so '\vell os licrc.;?Tlie;locatibri' ! 'ofthe-V.:; : ,' ; : ; new station in 'Australia would mean that tliroe ;\rij'4 out"of' tho four nece.ssMyi'ilinks-'irf -the' ohoin;■.;.•''.'■;, of observatories ( would'be -within, the: and ■ that nil-four.' tho'v American,, tlie, Britien. ',U,'' : V{' tho Indian* hnd'Australian. :Would ; ;bo ; Tun by.: : .,;; ;; English-speaking peoplo.;!' lt would, , nlfiO'Show'-w , '-; that : Australin recognised .her .■ responsibilities' M)--? nnd her opportunities,: nnd had;, takeniteS;,. 'if plaoe- natipiiß..of-..the.world,'■!■■ (Ap«\ '; '■£( ■jlnilse.) •■■ \'.- ; .':>J'' }:^''t: ',['{JA. yj' : }::^)^^ : .* Tho :.followin(i motion,', moved • hysProfeesor;.' /i'v, Henderson,, of ■ l Adelnidß:vUniTorsityivnnd'..'ee(>'';i;;':; : ,T ended,byrMr,:;G.H.'Eoid.-M.P..; mouay agreed ,toi—'T'hnt;,'tho' n snlor observatory' is desirablo; and tTint thbr •',; Federal, Qoyornment; 1 l>e; ; : :stronßly • urged < : to. v'(r, DRsumn tho of carrying it into:'. "£■* effect." ■,'. • ■ ■.-.•.;■ :.Mr.;'Geo. B«id. .■,-Jl.'P.v.sUßirested- tjiat.ppm'e ' Jl- : : ; D;i\n of wealth should immortF\liso by '. <? giving prncUcal SupDort; to •; the prcat, move--.'-'.'[iff ment for the ostabliphmem'of-KPolar.ionfleTy o "'- , -'/^', tqry. L •.Hβ,'hclievpH.ihnwpver, that-tho'.Federal v-s'R Governpient would':take. , the matter , ,up' in;real ; 'f':'' :S earnest. , ; (Applnuso.): ;:;■.;./ '■>:*:?■,'.':■..} .•, :: .' ; ''. : ;|-' ; :"viVil:;v