“OUR NEAREST NEIGHBOUR”

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 251, 18 July 1921, Page 9

“OUR NEAREST NEIGHBOUR”

LECTURE BY DR. ADAMS. That the free fortnightly lectures promoted by the Workers’ Educational Association are becoming increasingly popular was demonstrated on Saturday night, when, despite the boisterous weather that prevailed, a large audience attend’d at the Trades Hall Chambers to hear Dr. Adams. Government Astronomer, speak on “The Moon: Our Nearest Neighbour." The president (Mr. M. J. Forde) occupied thq chair. Dr. Adams commenced his lecture by placing before the audience the claims that science hud on people at the present time, and particularised the benefits that had been derived from astronomical discoveries, both from a scientific and a utilitarian point of view. Included in the latter category he stressed the outstanding importance of navigation, particularly to a country like New Zealand, which relied to such a great extent on its seaborne trade. Dr. Adams then traced step by step the advances made by astronomers, which had provided material, in contradistinction to mere speculation, regarding "our nearest neighbour.” The lecturer dwelt on the important discoveries made by Newton and Kepler, anti with globe and blackboard demonstrated how distances were accurately estimated end how important data, such as that relating to the phases of the moon, was collected with scientific exactitude. With the aid of lantern slides. Dr. Adams spoke of the physical features of the moon, and at the conclusion of .his lecture a vote of thanks, proposed by Air. Rod Ross, of Palmerston North, was carried enthusiastically.

A similar compliment wna accorded Captain Hooper, who manipulated the lantern. At tho of tlie formal proceedings a large number of tbn=e nrasont availed themselves of the invitation of Dr. Adnm= fo inspect the remarkable series of ptefoeraphs of tho moon which he had collected from limo to time. Dr. Adams urrod strongly tho acceptance Tiy the people of New Zealand of the largo telescope that h. n d beer, offered to the Dominion by the Yale University authorities.