ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2299, 5 November 1914, Page 3

ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

Mr. A. 0. Gifford presided at the annual general meeting of the Astronomical section of the Philosophical Society- last night, when the annual report (already published) and the bal-ance-sheet were adopted. ' The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. A. C. Gifford; lion, vice-president, Miss Mary Proctor; vice-presidents, Dr. Hector, Mr. 'C. P. Powfea, aiid Mr, 0. G. G. Berry; council, Messrs. G. Hogben, E. Pary, C. E. Adams, H. Sladden, P. G. Morgan, J. S. Welch, and W. S. La Trobe; director and .curator of instruments, Mr. C. E. Adams; hon. treasurer, Mr. C. P. Powles; hon. secretary, Mr. E. G. .Foriee. ' . i . :

Mr. E. C. Adams gave an account of Professor Brown's visit to. Nelson in connection with the Cawthron Observatory. The chief object of the visit was to suggest to Mr. Thomas Cawthron that the director of the observatory should be man. obtainable and that when, appointed he should be given &■ free hand to work out a scientific jwlicy untrammelled. . Tho interview with Mr. Cawthron had been very satisfactory. . The Rev. I. Von Gottfried delivered an interesting illustrated lecture on the ,l Ma<metism of the Sun," in the course of which he pointed out that it was now a demonstrated fact that the variation of the magnetic needle followed tne variation of the sunspot period. Hr dealt at length with the various phases of sunspots, their attraction of other matter, their passage of the sun, their effect on ship's compasses, and their destruction, fie also touched upon the use of the spectroscope, and. on spectrum analysis generally, and gave an idea of further advances whioh might bo poseib'e in the scientific world by the discovery of other instruments and of j men able to use them. . , A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the. lecturer, whose address it wrs considered opened a big field for aiscussion, and he was specially requested to attend some future meetings of the section to assist in dkciiesing •'he questions raised by his remarks. . The chairman read a paper by Mr. Robert Gilkison on "Ball's Theory of the Ice Age." Another written'paper was before the meeting entitled "Hecent Astronomy," by the Rev. P. W. Fairclough, but owing.to the late hour it could not bo read. Ton have now an opportunity of changing that scratchy needle-producing machine into a smooth running, rich, sweet; Pathephone. For a limited period we are offering to purchasers of fifteen Patephone Records, the uncomparable soundbox for 2s. 6d., instead of 15s. Thjs will instantly convert your old machine. Don t delay! Oscar Heweti*. and Co., aole Agents, 58 Cuba Street, Wellington.—Advt. The guns which form tho defence of batteries commanding important British h-vrboure and rivers nave mi extreme range of over IO.OQOyde.