DINNER TO THE ENGLISH EXPEDITION.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 112, 9 October 1874, Page 3

DINNER TO THE ENGLISH EXPEDITION.

A complimentary dinner to the English observers of the transit of Venus—viz, Major Palmer, R.E., Lieut Darwin, and Lieut Crawford, given by the Canterbury Philosophical Institute, took place last evening in the Provincial Council refreshment room. About fifty gentlemen were present, the chair being occupied by the President of the Institute, Dr Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.R.S, supported on the right by Major Palmer, the Right Rev the Primate, Lieut Darwin, and Mr L. Walker ; on the left by Lieut Crawford, his Honor Mr Justice Gresson, the Hon the Speaker, and the Registrar of Lands, Mr J. S. Williams. The vice chairs were filled by Dr Powell and Mr G, W. Hall.

Mr Morton provided a very recherche spread, it being served a la linsse, and comprising all the delicacies of the season. Grace was said by the Right Rev the Primate, and thanks returned by the Rev C. Fraser, M.A. The serving and the attendance was admirable, and reflected great credit on Mr Morton and his staff of assist ants.

• After dinner, a good dessert was placed upon the table, and the chairman rose to propose the usual loyal toasts, which were done due honor to.

His Honor the Judge then rose to propose the next toast, that of His Excellency the Governor.” He felt sure they would all give a warm reception to the toast, as it was the health of the representative of Her Majesty the Queen. But apart from his official capacity, Sir James Fergusson had claim upon them, because he had shown that he did not intend to discharge his duty perfunctorily, but intended to make himself thoroughly acquainted alike with the resources of the colony and the colonists themselves. He had impressed upon all with whom he had come in contact, the idea that he intended to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the resources of the colony by a personal visit through its length and breadth. [Hear, hear.] The recent expression of regret by the leading men of the colony at the dinner given by both Houses of Assembly on hearing of his resignation showed the estimation in which Sir James Fergusson was held. He would not detain them with a long speech, but would give them the toast of the Governor of New Zealand. The toast was drunk amidst applause. The Hon the Speaker rose to propose the next toast, which he felt sure would meet with a hearty response, and one which every colonist would drink heartily. It was that of “ The Army and Navy.” f Cheers.] They had had the experience which their native country had not, of the manner in which the two arms of the service had defended the hearths and homes of the colony. Beyond this, however, they had all learned to admire the army and navy of England, which had done such great and signal service in times of need. He would not go into the subject of the toast, as he felt sure that it would commend itself to every one present. [Cheers. ] The toast was drunk with loud plaudits.

Major Palmer, who on rising was warmlycheered, said that he felt rather diffident at rising to respond to the toast, as though he had the honour to belong to the service he he had been so long connected with purely scientific subjects, that he had quite got out of the way of modern military matters. It was a great thing, he took it, that a philosophical and scientific body like this had included their name in the list of their toasts. [Cheers.] Ithad been said that they'were overeducating their officers at home, and giving them too much science, and rather undervaluing the bravery and courage which formed so great a point in the battles of former days. But he took it that they would not at all endorse this view of the subject, because he felt that recent events in ,the great war raging on the Continent, and the result of the Ashantee campaign, showed that those who had brought science to bear had come out deservedly victors. [Cheers.] In the Ashantee campaign—though a small one -Sir Garnet Wolsely had the brains of the English army on his staff, and the result was a success. [Cheers.] He thanked them very much for the kindly way in which they had responded to the toast of “The Army.” [Cheers.] Lieutenant Crawford, K.N., rose to respond on behalf of the Navy. He desired to say that the Navy had always met with the greatest possible courtesy in the New Zealand ports, and it was always with , great gratification that they came into the port of Lyttelton and took a run up to Christchurch for a day or two. He thanked them very heartily

for the hospitable manner in which the toast had been received. [Cheers.] He had before experienced the kindness of the New Zealand colonists, when out here with his ship, and he could say this, that there was no station on which the officers and men of the Navy received more kindness than in New Zealand. [Cheers.] Dr Powell proposed the health of “ His Honor the Superintendent” in highly eulogistic to.ms. They were called upon to drink his Honor’s health as the patron of the Philosophical Institute, as the thrice elected Superintendent of the Province, and finally as Wra Rolleston. He need say no more. If he did so, it would not at all be necessary to ensure a warm reception of the toast. He gave them the health of his Honor the Superintendent, William Rolleston. [Cheers.] The toast was received with loud applause. The President then rose to propose the toast of the evening. He said:

My Lord and gentlemen, —I think it is a most favorable omen, that the day we have chosen for the celebration of the arrival amongst us of the three Astronomers selected by Sir George Airy, the Astronomer Royal, for the observation of the transit of Venus is the anniversary of the date on which 105 years ago, another astronomer, who since then has gained a well deserved world wide fame, landed on the coasts of New Zealand. It was on the eighth of October, 1769, that Captain Cook, on his Otaheitc voyage, where he was sent by the English Government for the observation of the transit of the same planet, as it were, rediscovered New Zealand. And thusa voyage undertaken for one special purpose was fraught with the most important results in many other respects. This fact alone shows the influence of science in pro moting the civilisation of mankind and material progress of the world. Without that voyage, undertaken in the interest of pure science, this portion of the Southern Hemisphere would in all probability not have been, as it now is,an important portion of the British Empire with so many of the comforts and enjoyments of European life, and the high aims and aspirations of a steadily advancing community. Have we not all reason to hope that the visit of our friends present this evening amongst us will be the starting point of a new era of progress in this colony ! It is a very difficult matter, especially when the three gentlemen are present whom we all wish to honor, to express the them in adequate terms the satisfaction am delight we all feel in seeing them here, and I wish to assure them that it is not a hackneyed phrase, when I say that I should havi been very glad had another more able of our members occupied the presidential chair on this occasion, and if I fail to express thost sentiments of satisfaction and pleasure as clearly and fully as I should have liked on behalf of this society—the oldest in Canterbury having purely intellectual aims—the distinguished guest? we have to-night amongst us may rest assured that it is not want of will, but only want of ability on my own part. And thus in welcoming to New Zealand Major Palmer and Lieutenant Darwin, Royal Engineers ; and Lieutenant Crawford, Royal Navy, JI may safely declare that I speak, not merely for the members of this institute, but for the whole population of this province, and indeed of the colony at large. We are delighted to have a new connect'on established between us and the great centre of science and learning on the other side of the globe, but are especially gratified to find in the three gentlemen who have now come amongst us, not merely official representatives of science, but gentlemen, who from their personal qualifications and social worth are peculiarly fitted to carry out the objects of their important mission. It is not now in their capacity of members of those two noble services the British army and navy, that I extend to thorn this welcome, but as the future worthy successors of such _ men as Captain Cook, General Sabine, Sir John Franklin, Admiral Ross, General Sir Henry James, all of whom have done noble work in the cause of science, and gained for themselves a lasting fame. Itwould be presumptuous in me to say much of our guests personally and individually in their immediate presence, but their names are already wellknown to us. Major Palmer has achieved a good reputation in the various parts of the world in which he has served his queen and country, and has never for a moment forgotten the claims that science has upon him. The sound work done by him in connection with the great Sinaitic expedition has brought his name into prominent and favorable notice throughout the scientific world. Lieutenant Darwin bears a name, and I may say, carries with him the personal features of one whose position in the ranks of science is not only foremost in this century, but will occupy in the future the same position amongst the investigators of biological science, as is occupied by Newton in physical science. In one word, I am certain that he will prove himself the worthy son of an illustrious father. Lieutenant Crawford, on the other band, differs from his two friends that he is no stranger amongst us, having already paid us a visit in PI.M. ship Challenger. He has also had considerable colonial experience elsewhere, and I may be allowed to say that, throughout the Australian colonies, he is recognised and spoken of as an ornament to his profession. Amongst my own more demonstrative and effusive countrymen, it would be probably the pleasant duty of the chairman to welcome the guests with a warm and affectionate embrace, but having regard to the more frigid usages of English society, I shall content myself with offering to Major Palmer and his colleagues, on behalf of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, a most hearty welcome and the right hand of fellowship, “The health of our distinguished guests, Major Palmer. Lieutenant Crawford, and Lieutenant Darwin.” The toast was received with loud cheers. Major Palmer, who was loudly cheered on rising, said: Mr President, my lord, and gentlemen,— ! On behalf of my colleagues and myself, I beg ! to offer you our warm thanks for the honor I you have done us in asking us here to-night, ' for the kindness of your reception, and for ; the heartiness with which you have toasted us, “ Venus men ” though we are, I must confess that not until now have we fully realised what the sensations of a “ star of the evening” must be. It certainly, gentle- ! men, is a very great privilege to be permitted, as we have been, to take part in what is perhaps the greatest astronomical enterprise which the world has ever seen; an enterprise which has for its object the determination of the earth’s true distance from the sun—the “ standard yard,” as it has been well termed, of dimensional astronomy; for it is on this that we chiefly rely for our measure of all

the dimensions of the solar system, and of the distances of those few of the fixed stars whose remoteness can be panned at all by any means yet known to science. But, if anything could heighten (he pleasure and pride with which we serve in such an interesting undertaking, it would bo the good fortune which has brought ns to this beaut iful island as our sphere of duty, and the kind reception which we have met with from its inhabitants. And I am glad to have this opportunity of stating publicly, for my officers and myself, how keenly we appreciate. not only the official facilities ai d the useful information which have been afforded to us by the General Government, by bis Honor the Superintendent, the members of the Executive, and various officers of Government and private individuals, but also the general kindness and hospitality which we h ive received since our arrival in Canterbury, and the compliment you have paid ns in inviting us to be yonr guests this evening Gentlemen, I spoke just now of the high scientific value of observations of the Transit of Venus. But they have an utilitarian value al j o, which must not be overlooked. To Great Britain especially, as the chief of maritime nations, anything which tends to ensure safety iu navigation has a direct practical and commercial importance, and this is exactly the result which successful observations of the Transit of Venus will help to bring about. The sailor, who has to find his absolute longitude at sea, depends upon the place of the moon at ary given instant as predicted in the tables of the Nautical Almanac ; and these predictions are founded on what is called the Lunar Theory —or that theory by which astronomers, taking into account all the forces which they conceive to influence the moon’s motion, have framed, in order that they may be able to calculate years beforehand where the moon will be in the heavens at any given moment. But the Lunar Theory in its present, shape does not fulfil these expectations. It is constantly at fault, and the moon is seldom exactly where she ought to be, if I may so ■my ; or, at any rate where the tables would place her. She is a constant source of worry and perplexity to astronomers, as Sir George Airy once feelingly remarked to me, “ We don’t mind the stars, Major Palmer, and we can get on pretty well with the sun and planets, but the moon is the greatest plague of all.” Now, the chief reason, there can be little doubt, of this extraordinary apparent misbehavior on the part of the moon is, that we do not accurately know the earth’s distance from the sun : so yon see that the transit of Venus will afford the means of perfecting the Lunar Theory, and thus of improving the science of navigation, and adding to the safety of commerce ; and not navigation only, for it will aid in the deteimination of absolute longitude at all points on the earth’s surface, which are not connected by telegraph with fixed observatories. Well, gentlemen, you will probably like to hear something from me, before I sit down, about the doings and prospects of the New Zealand part of the enterprise. | Cheers ] The site which I have chosen, as probably most of you are aware, is on the Government reserve at Burnham, eighteen miles away. I did not make my decision without a good deal of enquiry and anxious consideration. The difficulty of selection was much greater than any one unacquainted with the neighborhood would be likely to expect. The ordinary requisites for a site for an astronomical observatory are simple and obvious enough. But, in this particular case, we had to consider, first and foremost, where is the spot which is most likely to afford a good view of the suit on the afternoon of the 9th of December, and which is not unsuitable in other respects as an observatory site, and here I was faced with a number of subtle considerations, chiefly arising out of local peculiarities of climate and atmosphere, which it was a very troublesome matter to sift and digest. But I received, in the course of my enquiries, so much aid from various gentlemen who had given attention to such matters —amongst the foremost of them from yon, Mr President, whose kind help I gladly acknowledge now — that by last Thursday evening I was able to see my way clearly to a decision in favor of Burnham, the first site suggested to me by bis Honor the Superintendent. And I am glad to hear, as I have since done, that there is a general concurrence of opinion, on the part of those who of course know the district much better than I can possibly know it. that no more favorable spot could have been fixed upon. On Friday last we began operations on the ground, and I hope that early next week we shall have our transit instrument and clock erected and adjusted. The other three principal instruments, namely, the altazimuth, the equatorial telescope, and Mr Darwin’s particular pet, the pbotoheliograpb, will follow in a few days ; so that I hope to be in full working order in about a fortnight henc". I need hardly say, gentlemen, that if any of you like to pay us a visit, we shall bo nappy to welcome you at Burnham, and show you what we are about. You must not expect too tmiel , but you will see instruments which, if of but moderate size, arc the best of their kind, and you will have evidence of the remarkable preparation and care and forethought which the Astronomer Royal has bestowed upon the English part of the undertaking. For the actual observation of the transit, I am in hopes that we shall have a chain of at least four or five stations, extending from Wellington to Dunedin. Lieutenant Darwin and I, with the three non commissioned officers of Engineers who have accompanied ns, shall operate at the, main station at Burnham ; Lieutenant Crawford will take a transit instrument and telescope, probably to Timaru or the Waitaki. I am in communication with Mr -T. I. Thomson, of Dunedin, with the view of establishing a third station at Roekyside, for which he appears to have the necessary instruments. Archdeacon Stock will, 1 hope, be able to observe the transit at Wellington ; and, if I can only find one or two persons in the colony willing to lend me a pretty good four-inch telescope, I trust to have a fifth station on the Hurunui plains, or somewhere in that vicinity, and possibly also a sixtn station in the immediate neighbourhood of Christchurch ; all these points will bo iu direct telegraphic communication with me at Burnham, and I again shall connect with the American station under Professor Peters, probably at Clyde or the Bluff. Then, looking seaward, there will be, according to present arrangements, the Americans at Chatham Island, the Germans at the Auckland Islands, and the French at Campbell Island; and I am in hopes that, with the assistance of Her Majesty's ships, we shall be able to undertake chronometic expeditions to these points, for accurate determination of differences of longitude. You sec, therefore, that, by these means, full provision will have been made in this region for

successful observation of the transit of Venus; the whole group of stations will have been connected together, so that direct comparisons may be made between the various observations ; and lastly, you will have secured a fundamental longitude for New Zealand, which, it can be no offence to say. is likely to exceed in accuracy your previous absolute determinations, I fear, gentlemen, that I have already detained yon too lung. But I would ask one favor in conclusion. If you are disposed to follow up the kindness you have already shown us, do, please, occupy any spare time you may have between this and December till), in propitiating the great goddess whom doubtless all of you worship in secret, but to whom we have come to pay open court. If you can only prevail upon her to lay aside her usual bashfulness on the afternoon of the Din, and to let us mortal men have a thorough good look at her, from a very safe distance, for those four precious hours, you will have done a true service to astronomy ; you will have earned a debt of gratitude from us. and you will have secured at least three willing witnesses to a matter about which, after the experience of the last ten days, I must say we are just now a little bit sceptical—namely, the proverbial clear air and sunny skies of a New Zealand climate. [Laughter and cheers ] Lieutenant Darwin, who was warmly cheered on rising, said that after what Major Palmer had said respecting the Transit of Venus, he need say but very little on that subject. However, he desired to thank the President for the manner in which he iiad spoken of his father. [Elmers] lie might say that his father had heard of the progres- of science in these islands, mainly from the Transactions of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, whose reports reached him yearly. He might also mention that his father had visited these islands some years ago, and he felt sure that if he could but see them now, he would be greatly astonished. He thanked them very heartily for the way in which they had drunk his health. [Cheers.] Dr Turnbull rose to propose the next toast, the health of “ The President, Dr Haast.’ The Philosophical Institute of Canterbury’ had for twe've years done their best to afford a home for science and learning, and he was glad to note around him that night a large number of the original members of that institute. He was glad to see there that evening his Honor the Judge, Mr J. S. Williams, Mr Tancred, and many olheis who had long been members of the institute, and who had always endeavored to advance the cause of science. [Cheers.] On their attaining their majority—their twenty-first birthday—they had resolved to commemorate it by the establishment of an astronomical society, which had been done —[hear, hear]—and they hoped that great results would flow therefrom. [Cheers.] He was very pleased to hear that they were beginning to be known in England amongst reieutific men, and more so to learn from what had fallen from Lieut. Darwin, that the Transactions of the institute had reached his father, and hoped that they would still go on and prosper, offering a home for science and literature, and that where men were found ready to observe and to write on pure science, they would find a band of devoted men not too proud to be called members of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. [Cheers.] Looking to the fact that the Continental states rewarded the scientific man much more than was the case in England, he hoped that they in Canterbury would do yet more in this direction. He hoped they would drink the toast with all due honour, as Dr Haast had done a great deal for the cause of science iu Canterbury. [Cheers.] The toast was drunk with loud cheers.

Ur Uaast briefly responded to the toast. Tie thanked them very heartily for the way in which the toast had been received. The Kev G. Fraser then rose to propose “Success to theexpedition.” He might say that the presence there that evening of their guests shewed that England, with her resources had sent out men of estalished reputation to conduct the difficult and delicate operations of the transit. They trusted that the stay of new friends might be a pleasant one, and he would tell them that the good wishes of the people of the province went with them in their work. [Cheers ] So far as the Philosophical Institute went, he could say that anything which might be necessary to bo done to ensure the success of the expedition would readily be done. Though not taking any of the credit of the expedition, he felt (hat they in the colony would at least claim to share in the satisfaction of the successful issue of the observations ; to say at least that ihe observations had been conducted amongst them, and so far as they coaid to aid to aid and assist by all means in their power the gentlemen who were their honored guests that evening. He gave them, with heartfelt wishes that Venus would be propitious on the occasion, “ Success to the expedition.” [Cheers. | The toast was drunk amid loud cheers. The Ven Archdeacon of Christchurch rose to propose the toast of the Press of the Province and the colony. The gentlemen who had favored them with their company that evening were, perhaps unconsciously, in addition to their official duties doing good work in advancing what ho might call the vis inertia of a class too numerous ir the colony, a class who were 100 prone to ask| cni Ijono to anything relating to science which did not promise to produce dollars and cents, and to offer a steady opposition to any movement in the cause of pure science. [Cheers.] Such poisons as these must see that there was some real practical good to be derived from this expedition when countries like England, Germany, France and America each sent out an expedition, and the presence amongst them that evening of the gentlemen specially selected from their scientific attainments to observe the transit has an additional proof of the importance with which it was regarded at home. They here had founded an astronomical society in a small way, and though those to whom he had alluded as formi' g the cni hnno class looked upon astronomy as mere star-gazing, they who had stood as it were in the outer court of the sanctuary, if he might be allowed the expression, knew that nothing tended to elevate the minds of men more than this science. [Cheers.] He felt that if they were better acquainted with the popular works on astronomy now within the reach of all, the researches of Newton and Arago, they would be better fitted to prai c e the wondrous works of the God of all nature. [Cheers ] He trusted that the visit of the gentlemen they had met that evening to honor would not be of mere ephemeral good to them—[hear, hear] but that it would tend even after they had

gone to encourage them in the colony to continue and keep up the work—[cheers] — and in this they hoped to receive the assistance of the press of the colony. [Hear, hear.] He hoped by this assistance that the cause of science would be advanced, and that it would be stamped upon this generation that after what had been done by the great nations of Europe in this matter it was their duty to carry forward the development of science amongst them. [Cheers.] He gave them with very great pleasure “ The Press of the Province and the Colony.” [Oncers.] The toast was drunk amid cheers

Mr Hart briefly responded, expressing a conviction that as the press of Canterbury had always been found advocating the true interests of the settlement, so now they would he found ready and willing to assist in every possible way in the cause of science.

The Chairman then proposed “ The health of Mr Lancelot Walker," who had undertaken the supervision of the dinner of which they had partaken. [Cheers.] The toast was drank heartily, Mr Walker responded in a humorous speech, and begged to propose the toast of Venus and the ladies of Christchurch,” coupled with the name of Mr T. D. Condell. [ Cheers.] The toast was drank amid cheers.

Mr Condell briefly responded, thanking those present for the way in which they had honored the toast.

Dr Powell then proposed the health of ‘•The Hon the Speaker of the Provincial Council,” who had kindly placed the very commodious room in which they wore assembled at their disposal. They had been placed somewhat in a quandary, as they were not able to get one which would suit them, but at the last moment the right man in the person of the Speaker had come forward and proffered them the very commodious room in which they were assembled. [Cheeis ] The toast was drunk amidst loud cheers.

The Speaker, in responding, said that on this occasion they wore met to do honour to the observers of the Transit of Venus, but it appeared to him that a like honour was due to those who would observe the transit of provincial institutions, [Laughter.] He felt that their days were numbered as a Provincial Council —[‘‘No, no.” and hear, l icar ]_indecd, like Venus, he believed they they were going to have a transit, but he believed that it would be observed even more keenly than the transit of Venus. [Laughter.] This concluded the list of toasts, and the company broke up.