New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4214, 22 September 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1874.

Late in the session an interesting series of papers relative to the transit of Venus across the disc of the sun, which will take place on December 8, was presented to both Houses of Parliament by the command of His Excellency the Governor. By these we see that the subject of an observation of this character in New Zealand received the attention of scientific men at Home, and of the authorities there, as early as the year 1874. Then the Astronomer Royal pointed out to the Secretary of State for the Colonies that it had been considered desirable there should bo an observation in the Australian seas, and ho had had under consideration which would bo the best site. The Tasmanian Government had suggested Hobart Town, but he considered Auckland would be preferable, and Christchurch still more so. If, however, the New Zealand Government had a preference for Auckland, the observation could be made there. An objection to Hobart Town was the uncertainty of the longitude of that place, the Government not having then seen the propriety of having it exactly determined. At that time there was a little difficulty in respect to longitudes in New Zealand, these having been calculated from tables in the Nautical Almanac, then discovered to be inaccurate ; but care had been taken for determining that at Wellington, and from it others could bo calculated by means of the telegraph lino. Indeed, Sir G. B. Airey subsequently alluded to this in flattering terms, saying that “ unusual value would attach to observations” made at various stations in New Zealand, “in consequence of the admirable system which had been adopted, of connecting the longitudes of the principal settlements by the galvanic telegraph.” Christchurch, therefore, was decided upon for the English Government party to make an observation, and the principal instruments provided are a siiinoh equatorial telescope, a four-inch one, an altozinouth, a transit instrument, a photographic heliograph, clocks, etc. The minimum of equipment at the places where private observations may bo made, is a four-inch telescope and a clock. Dr. Hector, who seems, to have had to make moat of the arrangements, suggested that Archdeacon Stock, of Wellington, should bo communicated with in respect to furnishing instruments for a local observation ; also, Mr. Karkeek, of Wairarapa ; Mr. Heal, of Auckland j and Mr. J. S. Thomson, of Dunedin. The desirability of observations being made at various points is obvious, on account of the uncertainty of the weather which might causa ono locality to bo unsuitable at the particular time when the observations should be made. The exact spot chosen for the observation of the English Government to be made at is on an isolated hill, seven miles in a southerly direction from Christchurch, on some property belonging to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. Dr, Hector says that it is on the point of a long spur, running; westward from Banks’ Peninsula, and it commands to within a few degrees the horizon in all directions. It was selected

in preference to any place nearer Christ-, church in the hope of escaping the mirage that is so frequent on the plains in summer afternoons during hot northwest winds, and to avoid the sea fog that at night covers the hills on the Peninsula and on the seaward slope in summer. A road and telegraph line are about a quarter of a mile away, and from these a wire will be stretched, so that there may be communication between the clocks of the observers and that of the Government paity. The Colonial Government erects the observatory huts, and makes the necessary communication, but the total cost is not computed by Dr. Hector to be more than about £3OO. Meteorological observations during the past seven years of the state of weather in the month of December had shown that at Auckland there had been an average of fifteen rainy days in the mouth, of fourteen at Dunedin, of twelve at Wellington, of nine at Christchurch, and of nine at Nelson. This information had been sought by the Astronomer Royal, by the United States authorities, and doubtless by others, from the English Government, to whom it had been communicated. The importance attached to the matter is demonstrated by the fact that expeditions have been fitted out to make observations by almost every civilised Government, the United States sending several into the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The object sought is, as most of our readers will be aware, to determine the exact distance of the sun from the earth, which can be done if the observation be accurately made, recorded, and calculated from. Major Palmer, R.E., will be the officer in charge of the Imperial party at Christ-; -church : and the Colony is to bo congratulated on the fact that he will be ably co-operated with by local savans. No doubt the Telegraph Department will also render able and valuable services to all parties concerned. The conduct of the Provincial authorities of Christchurch in the matter is worthy of all praise. Early in 1872 the Superintendent wrote to the Colonial Secretary for any information that could be given to him, either by Dr. Hector or anyone else, that he might act upon. Without being aware of the intention of the Astronomer Royal to despatch a party to New Zealand, a number of Christchurch gentlemen had met, and formed a sort of Philosophical Society for the purpose of obtaining the erection of an observatory, for which they thought the great expanse of the Canterbury Plains, and the clearness of the atmosphere, rendered the site very desirable. The Superintendent recommended his Council to vote £IOOO for the building, and to procure the necessary apparatus, and also that the institution should be endowed with 5000 acres of land. The Council were agreeable to vote £IOOO for establishing the observatory, and £2OO for the purchase of the site, on condition that the Colonial Government should undertake the future maintenance of the institution. There the correspondence breaks off, but the fact remains that a number of gentlemen promised to become annual subscribers and to give donations towards the first cost. From the proceedings of the Superintendent, and the interest he took in the matter from the first, it is quite clear that he will afford the Imperial party all the assistance that lies in his power. The fact remains to his credit, and it is one we are glad to have an opportunity of recording. There is such a disposition on the part of some public men to view all matters from a narrow, local, and provincial point of view, that it is a satisfaction to find one acting as if New Zealand were not a mere isle in the Southern Ocean, but a portion of an empire, containing vast interests, and institutions of wonderful magnitude and importance. r i he result of the observations here, to which the Astronomer Royal attaches so much importance, will be looked forward to .with the most lively interest; and in contributing to it, our local savans may remember with feelings not unmixed with pride, that they are co-operating in a work the importance of which has been recognised all over the world, by the highest authorities. They will be working, shoulder to ’shoulder, with men of the highest scientific reputation.