ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1929, Page 6

ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Astronomical Society, held last week, it was stated byrX)r, -C;. E. Adams, Government Astronomer, and secretary of the society, that healthy' activity was manifested in the, operations of jill sections. The year's work had included research upon comets, sun'spots, auroras,; and other aspects of astronomy. Owing to the extraordinarily suitable position of New Zealand arrangements were made last year with Zurich Observatory in regard to recording'the observation of sunspots. In this connection useful work had been done already with other countries. During the year, for instance, some interesting relationships between auroras and sunspots noticed' in New Zealand had also' been simultaneously observed and confirmed in the United '■ State's. These indicated the importance of continuing, and, if possible, extending observations in the Dominion in connection with work in progress in the'northern hemisphere.

Owing to. bad weather conditions, due for the.most part to cloud and haze, there were not many suitable nights for cometsearching. In regard to meteors, some very interesting observations had been made during the year. Over 1500 meteors had been- observed in; detail, and important data, which agreed with similar results m other countries, including the United States, bad been obtained. Some good photographs had' been taken of a meteor trail, but the annual shower could not be photographed owing to the brightness of the moon. Iv two cases fireballs had been noticed by a number of observers. In the- case of a fireball that struck the earth near ,Te Kuiti new light had been brought to bear on the identity and the paths of meteorites.

At the subsequent election of officers the following members of the society were elected: President, the Hou. T. K. Sidey, M.L.C. (elected m the place of Sir Robert Stout, the retiring president, who, by the rules of the society, is riot, after two years in office, eligible for re-election) ■ vice-presidents, the Hon. Sir Francis Bell' isir Robert Stout, Mr. E. D. Bell and Mr A. C. Gifford; secretary, Dr.'C/E. Adams-' assistant secretary, Mr. R. C. Haves' treasurer Mr. C. G. G. Berry; editor/Mr i. Gawith; librarian.- Mr. F. M: Bateson-' council, Messrs. M. E. G. Hogg, P ODea Professor Somerville, W. R. Michaelis, Professor D. C. H. Floranee, L. Thompson.

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Ml\ F. ..Gawith, who presided, for his offer to print the society's papers, for which purpose he is obtaining the neo'ssary plant. .• ■ ' t