Stonyhurst College Observatory.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 16, 16 April 1903, Page 20

Stonyhurst College Observatory.

Of the four complete sets of instruments in the United King" dom for observing and recording terrestrial and magnetic phenomtna, Stony hurst College possesses one set. It is quite probable that Stony hurst will eventually ba the only place in the country where these delicate and wonderful measurements can be prosecuted with the necessary exactitude. The electrical disturbance produced by the tram system in the metropolis and ita suburba is proving to be the ruin of Kew and Greenwich as magnetic stations, so that it will be left to comparatively isolated places like Stonyhurst to carry out these extremely iv portant observations. Records have been taken at Stonyhurst hour by hour and minute by minute since 1868. The magnetic needle is constantly varying, and at present in this district it points 18 degrei a west of north. Fathers Cortie and Sidegreaves, S.J., are the painstaking and able astronomers and scientists who, in conjunction with the late Father Perry and other Jesuit Fathers, have gained world-wide renown for the Stonyhurst Observatory.

Messrs. Coughlan Bros, have now entered into possession of their New Shamrock Hotel, Maclaggan street, Punedin, which is one of the most commodious and up-to-date hostelries in the city. The house has been renovated and refurnished throughout, and everything deemed necessary for the convenience and comfort of boarder^ has been supplied, so that the proprietors expect that their enterprise will meet with due recognition lrom the travelling public. In addition, to dining, smoking, and private sitting rooms, the establishment contains 60 bedrooms, which shows that the accommodation is on a very extensive scale. To further popularise the New Shamrock it has been determined to reduce the tariff to the very moderate charge of 4s 6d per day, a departure, coupled with the popularity of the genial proprietors, which should result in taxing the very extensive accommodation to its utmost capacity....