ASTRONOMY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1922, Page 5

ASTRONOMY.

NEW PLYMOUTH SOCIETY. The executive council of the New . Plymouth Astronomical Society met on Thursday night at the residence of Mr. M. Fraser, who presided. The president (Dr. Home) delivered a most interesting address upon a subject of astronomical interest. % By the lamented death of Mr. E. Anderson, the society has lost one of its •most active and earnest observers. A motion expressing regret and conveying sympathy to the relatives of the deceased gentleman was carried in silence. The treasurer (Mr. T. M. Avery) reported a credit balance to date of £3B. The hon. director (Rev. 0. Blundell) reported that Mr. J. T. Ward, of Wanganui, had the, work of the new equatorial’for the observatory in hand. The cost o-f this instrument is to be £75, and it is to be of guaranteed workmanship and utility. Such an instrument made by a well-known English firm would cost the society a very much larger sum. The fine lunar photographs recently received from the Mt.-Wilson observatory, have been suitably framed, and now hang in the observatory, where they may be viewed by visitors. Preparations for the new mounting for the 6-inch telescope have been commenced, voluntary workers having recently put in the concrete for the base of the pier. A letter was received from the Borough Council declining to accede to the request made for a small electric light to be placed in the observatory. As offers have since been made to do the work by free labor, and as the cost of material will not be great, it was decided to appoint a deputation to wait upon the Borough Council with a view to getting this very needful matter carried out. The staff of qualified observers has been strengthened by the addition of Dr. Home and Mr. E. W. M. Lyons, who have been duly supplied with keys to the observatory. Mr. G. A. Dolby was elected by unanimous vote to the position on the executive council rendered vacant by the death of Mr. E. Anderson.