The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1905. ASTRONOMY IN WANGANUI.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12629, 17 October 1905, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1905. ASTRONOMY IN WANGANUI.

The advent of the third annual meeting of the Wangamui Astronomical Society, which takes plaoe this evening in Freeman R.Jackson and Co.'s rooms, Ridgway Street, offers an opportunity of passing a few remarks on the progress of our local society, and the study of the subject in general. During the lecture delivered by Sir Robert Stout quite recently, at the Museum, he Stated that it. had been the desire of the late Mr Balibance, for many years' prior to his decease, that New Zealand should have a first rate public observatory equipped with a large telescope, and that this wish had [often been expressed privately. It is certainly an interesting fact that the town and district lie represented should be the first to erect and equip an astronomical observatory. It may be granted that, apart from its position as a scientific profession, astronomy should have a place in what we term a liberal education. America appears to iead the world nowadays an many tilings and tre subject of our present artiole is no exception. Studded over the States of the Union are many of the finest astronomical observatories in the world. These institutions are, in' many cases, a result of the.generosity of wealthy individuals who take a pride in the scientific progress of their country. Great Britain has in recent years produced several notable benefactors to this science, but it' (rests undoubtedly with America and its fine educational system to have produced a more intense appreciation of the wonders and glories oi this science. 1 through ' intellectual grasp of its^facts.Wia result of a sound basis of knowledge -This-is derived from the highei* schools and colleges which impart, practical instruction to their- students aided by models and instrumental means. It may be said that New Zealand has haa-dly arrived at that stage subjects, which are generally looked upon as '' ornamental" may be taught at the expense of the pubic purse; still, we make bold to affirm that'in a country, like'ours, where the avenues* to sound- healthy amusement ■and recreation are not in the same proportion as in the older countries of the world, it is quite a ( ,proper, subject for the minds of the young, and one that would surely have an ennobling effect upon the intellect. The ' star-studded vault of heaven has appealed. to the mind of man from time immemorial. We find Oarlyle regretting that ho had net been taught to know the stars in his youth. Here in our midst is an in-f-titution that offers great facilities for the study of astronomy, greater could not well be offered under the circumstances, seeing'that the duties'of the honorary staff are purely voluntary and entail attendance at the Observatory on three or more evenings, if fine, in each week. We 'have views slightly at variance with ifche management committee of this society, whereby a more open house might be kept about the telescope, but in view of the difficulties oi financing an institution of this kind on a very limited income we would not press our point. That the society, in addition to its regular scientific research work which we believe goes forward on every available opportunity, is doing its best to cultivate a love ot astronomy and an interest in the greatUniverse around us, none will deny, and for such it mo.st certainly deserves the whole-hearted support .of these who can afford it. An additional argument might 'be found in the fact that mathematical astronomy is now taken as one of the pass subjects in the honours course in mathematics at our universities. There is no reason why. New Zealand should not take an honourable place, for its astronomical labours, in the near future. Given a well-equipped observatory in many of our centres of population to which access may be freely gained by those whose hearts are in the work and who shall say what Herchells or Xewtons there may .not be revealed beneath the ever-circling Southern Crass. There is & great wealth ©f popular yet precise literature upon this, subject that may be had in these days for a, nominal sum. One may revel in the lucid descriptions of Proctor, Ball, Gore, Flammarion, and many others, and then a visit to the observatory and the reality of it all is at once demonstrated to us. Wanganui at the present time possesses by far the largest telescope in New Zealand, or, with the exception or a few in the large Government observatories in Melbourne and Sydney, in the whole of Australasia, which is saying a good deal. How long we may be entitled to this honour remains to be seen. Some years ago a gentleman named Carter left to the trustees of the New

Zealand Institute an amount of money which has, so -we are informed, now ■reached the considerable sum of over £2000. This money is intended to go towards 'establishing and equipping an astronomical observatory. With, such a sum in hand a sltairt might surely be made. Doubtless the Government would assist with <a subsidy, and many of Wellington's wealthier citizens add their quota, thus making it possible to equip an observatory with instruments that would be a lasting credit ft© the country and provide means for the upkeep of the same. There is a small observatory at Canterbury College containing, we believe, an excellent telescope, while in Nelson the instrument belonging to the late Mr Atkinson of that town is now established in an observatory and is available afc times to the public. In drawing our readers' attention to this subject, and to the legitimate claim the observatory has upon the people of this town "and district, from an educational standpoint, we 'have in our mind the pregnant thought of the great German, Goetlhe: "Man is not born to solve the mystery of existence; but he must, nevertheless, attempt it, in order that he may learn how to keep within the limits of the knowable." The conceptions that arise from a contemplation of astronomical knowledge as presented to us in these days camies us to a point where the dignity of life becomes an increasing reality, and from that vision of immensity, of insatiable force arrayed in forms enormous, or minute, extending over abysses only to be bridged' in aeons of time we arise with the deepseated conviction of progress and true ©mancipation for all mankind, or as the poet" says:— •■

" For I doubt not through the ages one increasing purpose runs, Arid the thoughts, of men a<re widened •by the process of the suns."