THE PROPOSED SOLAR PHYSICS OBSERVATORY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1756, 22 May 1913, Page 6

THE PROPOSED SOLAR PHYSICS OBSERVATORY.

MR. PARR AND HIS CRITICS. Sir,—As far as I liavo seen, only two roplies have appeared to my letter published by you on May 10, on tho proposed Solar l'liysics'Observatory. Though neither of theso replies is very weighty, perhaps you will allow me to say a few words more upon the subject, as it is, of courso, one of very great importance. One of the gentlemen who has been good enough to reply to my letter, l)r. Hector, is a medical mail. He accuses me of great arrogance, but wherein does my arroganco lie? I stated, certainly, what, in my opinion, as a physicist, tlio ideals of a solar physical observatory were, but is that any more arrogant than ho would bo if ho were to express his opinion, say, on a medical case. Is it, indeed, so arrogant as ho would bo if lie were to express his ideas on a physical question, and yet that is what he does not hesitato to do., But what I said is very well known. For years past a committee of tho British Association has been urging upon the people of Australia tho paramount importance of a solar physical observatory there, but.in looking through their report I find no mention of New Zealand as a suitable spot. Tho com-, mitteo consists o.f Sir- David Ciill, lato Astronomer Royal for Cape Town, Dr. Itaflield, Professor of Physics at Reading, Dr. W. J. Lockyer, of the Solar Physics Observatory at South Kensington. Mr. F. M'Clcan, of Tunbridge Wells, Professor Arthur Schuster, lately Professor of Physics at Manchester, and at present president of the Physical Society, and Professor 11. n. Turner, Professor of Astronomy at Oxford.

I wonder if these names are known to my critics. If not they must be contentto take my assurance that the committed is one, every member of which is either a very well-known physicist or astronomer, or both.

'Die committee say's (British Association's report, Winnipeg meeting, 1909, page VI). quoting, and therefore adopting, a letter from the secretary of tho Smithsonian Institution:—

"Few existing observatories are situated in regions where good solar-ob-serving conditions are common, and there is abundant opportunity for valuable work on the part of the proposed Australian observatory." And again, page GG. same report:—

"It was quickly discovered that solar observations could not well bo made at any of the existing Australian Stale Observatories, and so an attempt is being made lo establish a special observatory for the work. ' And that special observatory is (British Association reports, 1910, pago 41) "to be at a suitable spot in the interior of the continent."

Really, Sir, a ?o!ar physics observatory is not a thin? that is wanted everywhere, ror ono tW' can do it< work anywhere, and it is obvious that if a solar observatory should be established hero in ami one also in Australia, tho ono heic could at the most only play pccond fiddle to the one at a sito specially chosen in Australia. But only one more such observatory is needed, and only tCOOOft are, n- ree-Vd in 1010, for that, for (British Association report's, 1010, page ■1!) it is written:— "So that ns matters stand at present, the sum of .£OOOII is alone rontiiwl to enable the whole- world to be linked up by a chain of observatories, and the scheme of international co-operation in solar research to be carried completely into effect. This sum of .CfiOOO is wanted, or was in imo, because up to (lien .E'.Ofifl had been raised privately, and when .CIO.OOO was reached the Government would Rive pound for pound up to ,£IO.OOO. Now. not. only wilt tho establishment of a solar physical observatory not, T believe, moot, tiie demands of science, but, T fear, wili do even more harm than pood, for two Federal Premiers have promised the ,£IO,OOO as SOOll as Hie ,£(1000 mentioned before is raised privately. If n Solar Pliysics Observatory w-cro to be established in New Zealand it would give (lie Federal Ministry an opportunity for snyimr timl in the luoaniinie one had been established in New Zealand. T am quite sure of this, (hat if Mr. Cawtliron wore (o say In llio Committee of tho British Association (Dr. Duflield is seerethat ho would givo even half of

what ho has offered to give to aid in tho establishment of a Solar Physics Observatory in Australia, lie would not only show great broad-mindedness, but also do far moro for tho subject he wants to assist, than ho could do by establishing a Solar Physics Observatory in Nelson. However, I would suggest that tho best way is to refer (ho whofo question, not to Sir Robert Ball, who has. as far as I know, 1 alien no very special interest in •solar physics, but to the Solar Physics Committee of the British Association. Mr. Cawthron would then have the advico of the very best export in England, and if in tl.-iir opinion a Solar Physics Observatory in Nelson will fill tlic bill, ho can go ahead with tho most absolute certainty that ho is doing a real service to (he scienco of astronomy and also that of physics. ' i It is evident that my critics think, or thought, I hnvo an axe to grind. It is true that I have one, and the axe I want to grind is tho true advancement of physical science, just as I suppose Dr. Hector's is the advancement: of meriicino, and Mr. Gibbs's that o'tv botanical collecting. If. did occur to mo that it might be possible to make a geophysical observatory take the place of a snl.-v physical one. Magnetic observations are the' difficulty. Nelson is unfortunately so bad I from a magnetic point of view that it would be extremely difficult", if not impossible, to find any plr.ee suitable for a magnetie. observatory there.

_ 'i'o put tho matter n.s shortly as possible: One more solar physics ob'-ervalorv is required to complete' the schemo of international eo-uporalion in solar research (British Association Reports, MO, p. It). The proper place for this is in the interior of Australia (British Association Reports, 1!)!0, p. -11).' Somo .CIiOOO are or were wanled to equip it (British Association Reports, 11)10, p. 4t). Wily, then, take ten or fifteen thousand pounds of any man's money, however generous ho may be, to r.rect one in certainly not so suitable a site, and thus jeopardise the cshiblishmsnt of one in Australia.

■Tust perhaps a word in reply to Mr. Oibbs. Of course I know very well that there is n Solar Physics Obs-ervntovy at South Kensington, and 1 know (hat it is a very bad site for one, as work is out of the question in it during tho English winter (British Association Reports, IGO9, I>. 66). In conclusion, I yield to no one in my admiration of Mr.' Cawthron's publicspirited liberality, and I am sure lie will understand that the spirit in which I am writing .is not one of fractious opposition, but a genuine desire to see physical science advanced in the best, and at the same time the most economical, way.— I ain, etc.,

C. COLERIDGE FAKIt. Physical Lalsorat''ory. "Canter'mrv College. slay" 10.