ASTRONOMY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1919, Page 6

ASTRONOMY.

A LEOTUEE TO BE GIVEN IN NEW PLYMOUTH. ' Sir Frank W. Dyson, F.E.S., the presi- ' dent of the British Astronomical Society, in the course of a recent address, deplored the fact that among people of means and education there exists a good deal of ignorance of the most elementary facts of the sublime science of astronomy. It is to be feared that the same is not less true in New Zealand than in England; yet there are. some people in most of our towns who, unaable to boast of much knowledge of the subject, are nevertheless quite ready to learn, and are, indeed much interested in the impressive array of celestial lights which gleam in soft radiance above us. This is true of a number of people in New Plymouth, and in past days at least' one attempt has been made to found a society for the cultivation of the science of astronomy. The fact that the attempt failed does not indicate that any other would be doomed to a like fate. Indeed there are indications that the time is ripe for a serious effort in this direction, and that, given the needed stimulus, a suffltient number of enthusiasts would be found in our community, not only to form a Society, but to establish an observatory where this noble and elevating science could be effectively pursued. It is with a view to pro. viding such a stimulus that Mr. J. TWard, the honorary director of the Wanganui Observatory, has been invited to New Plymouth. A number of years ago Mr. Ward succeeded in so interesting his fellow-townsmen in the subject o? astronomy that the present flourishing society in Wanganhi, with its splendidly equipped observatory, has sprung up as a direct result of Mb efforts. On Monday, April W, those interested in the formation of an Astronomical Society in New Plymouth are .asked to attend the lecture to be delivered by Mr. Ward xvpon "The Telescope and its Revelations." The new Assembly Hall at the Boys' High School has been kindly placed at the visitor's disposal for the purpose of the lecture bv the headmaster, and the fine optical lantern in use at the school will be employed to screen the lecturer's illustrations. A collection will be taken to defray the expenses involved. ,