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(3) Sergeant-Major L. J. Comrie, on active service in Egypt. The limes of discovery were: (1) Mr. Hudson—l9lß, June Bd. 23 h. 15 m. G.M.T.; (2) Mr. Crust—l9lß, June Bd. 21 h. 40 m. G.M.T.; (3) Mr. Comrie—l9lß, June 9d. Bh. G.M.T. This is the brighest nova since Kepler's star in Ophiuchus, which appeared in 1604, and the discovery of so bright a new star is an event of great importance. Owing to war conditions, proposals for the equipment of the Observatory have had to be held over, so that the Observatory has no spectroscopic apparatus. However, Mr. J. T. Ward, Director of the Wanganui Observatory, has a, direct-vision spectroscope, while Dr. C. Monro Hector, Mr. A. C. Gifi'ord, and Mr. E. L. Morley have also direct-vision spectroscopes in use, and from these gentlemen valuable reports of their observations of the spectrum have been received and forwarded to the Lick Observatory and the Harvard College Observatory. Professor Edward C. Pickering, Director of Harvard College University, in the Harvard College Observatory Bulletin No. 661, makes an appeal for observations of the brightness of Nova Aquikc. His map and bulletin have been reprinted and distributed to observers in New Zealand. A number of reports of the magnitude of the nova have been received, and will be forwarded to Professor Pickering. The position of the nova is R.A. 18 h. 43'8m., dec. 0° 29' north (1900). From photographs taken in Wellington on the 9th June the nova appeared to be identical with a star of 8"8 magnitude shown on the astrographie chart of the Algiers Observatory. Occulations. Occultation of a Star by the Planet Venus. —Information was received from Private Arthur Burnet, of the British Expeditionary Forces, France, the honorary secretary of the Leeds Astronomical Society, that an occultation of the star 7 Aquarii, magnitude 57, by the planet Venus would take place on the 2nd March, 1918, G.M.T., and that the occultation would be visible in New Zealand. With the voluntary assistance of Sergeant-Major Comrie and Professor D. M. Y. Sommerville the exact circumstances of the occultation were investigated, when it was found that at Wellington a near approach would take place, but that farther south in New Zealand an occultation would be visible. Astronomers in New Zealand were advised and asked to observe the phenomenon. Reports from a number of observers were received, but no definite observations of the occultation were made. In Wellington it was raining at the time. In the course of the investigation of the circumstances of the occultation it was found that at the Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton, California, a nearly central occultation would occur. Accordingly a cable was sent to that Observatory, with very favourable results. The weather was good, and careful observations were made with the 36 in. and the 12 in. equatorial telescopes, and with the meridian circle when Venus was on the meridian. A full description of the observations appears in the Put/lications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, vol. 20, No. 174, for April, 1918, page 166. Occultation of the Planet Jupiter by the Moon. —This occultation took place on the morning of the 4th August, 1918. Preparations were made to observe it at Wanganui, and arrangements were made with the Telegraph Department to have the Observatory signal-clock transmit the time-signals over the telegraph-line to Wanganui. The time-signals were heard clearly at Wanganui. The weather at Wanganui prevented any observations being made there. Dr. C. Monro Hector, at Lower Hutt, Mr. 0. G. G. Berry, at Wellington, and Mr. E. L. Morley, at Nelson, observed the occultation. Ephemeris for Eros. With the voluntary assistance of Sergeant-major Comrie an ephemeris for Eros was calculated. Fo iicanlt ' s Pendulum. A successful demonstration of Eoucault's pendulum experiment was given by Mr. A. W. Burrell, of Stratford, before the Astronomical Section, in the transit-room. The demonstration was remarkable in that the pendulum was a very short one, about 10 ft.; it consisted of a 35 lb. lead bob supported by a piano-wire. The support was a piece of file ground smooth and fixed level. The wire terminated in a loop attached to a holder, which had a hard steel ball to take the weight on the file : the pendulum was therefore free to swing in any vertical plane. Within about 40 seconds after the pendulum was started in any given plane the rotation of the earth was clearly demonstrated. Milne Seismograph No. SO. The Milne seismograph is installed in the cellar, with the boom in the meridian and the pointer to the north. The Government Seismologist, Mr. G. Hogben, C.M.G., M.A., F.G.S., is in charge of the seismograph. The daily care of the instrument falls to the Observatory, while the development of the photographic records is done at the Dominion Museum. As no provision is made for duty at the Observatory on Sundays, it has been necessary to make arrangements for attention to the seismograph then. Professor D. M. Y. Sommerville has kindly undertaken this duty, and for this voluntary service thanks are due to him. New Zealand Journal of Science, and Technology. An important scientific event took place in the establishment of the New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology, of which four numbers have appeared. The journal offers a convenient medium for the publication of astronomical matter, and advantage has already been

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