Annual Meeting. 495 



" 7. A candidate for the prize shall send to the Secretary of the New Zealand 

 Institute, on or before the 30th day of June preceding the date of the annual meeting 

 at which the award is to be made, an intimation of his candidature, together with at 

 least two copies of each publication on which his application is based. 



" 8. Whenever possible the prize shall be presented in some public manner." 



Samoan Observatory Committee. — A committee consisting of Professors T. H. 

 Easterfield, C. Coleridge Farr, E. Marsden, D. M. Y. Sommerville, and Mr. G. Hogben 

 was set up to confer with the Government Astronomer and the Hon. Minister of 

 External Affairs as to the best means to be adopted for the maintenance of the 

 Samoan Observatory. On the 12th February this committee consulted with the Hon. 

 Minister and the Government Astronomer. At a meeting of the Standing Committee 

 held on the 25th June it was resolved that Dr. C. A. Cotton, Dr. C. E. Adams, and 

 Mr. A. C. Gifford be added to the committee ; that the scope of the committee be enlarged 

 to allow it to make representations on all matters relating to earth physics and 

 astronomy in New Zealand and dependencies, the committee to act strictly through 

 the Standing Committee of the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute. It 

 was resolved to ask the Observatory Committee to concentrate at present upon the 

 following lines of work : — 



(1.) Investigation of the most suitable site for a central astronomical observatory. 



(2.) Consideration of the means of acceptance of the Yale offer. 



(3.) Reliable estimates of costs to be framed on all matters in connection with 

 the above. 



(4.) Any report to take into consideration the desirability of retaining in their 

 present sites any seismographs. 



(5.) To report on the desirability of instituting a vulcanological observatory in 

 New Zealand. 



The following resolutions of the Observatory Committee were forwarded to the 

 Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs, who replied that the fullest consideration would be 

 given to the report and recommendations : — 



" That the Committee, having heard of the munificent offer of the Yale Observatory 

 of astronomical instruments of the highest grade, strongly urges the acceptance of the 

 offer by the Government. The committee is of the opinion that most advantageous 

 use can be made of the offer by combining at one central spot the equipment of 

 the Hector Observatory and the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory with the Yale 

 instruments. The committee considers that some site in the highlands of Central 

 Otago could be found offering astronomical and geophysical conditions that would 

 be unique in the Southern Hemisphere. Further, the combination of the observatories 

 in one locality would be a distinct economy compared with the present separate 

 establishments. The increased facilities which would thus be offered to the scientific 

 staffs for mutual discussion and co-ordination of work would of necessity tend to 

 greater efficiency. If these suggestions meet with the approval of the Government 

 the committee will be glad to aid by giving further advice as to the scope of the 

 proposed single observatory and its cost. 



" That tins committee, having heard and considered Professor Marsden's report on 

 the Samoan Observatory, cordially endorses the opinions and recommendations contained 

 therein. The committee is of the opinion that the work being carried on in Samoa is of 

 the very greatest scientific and economic importance, and strongly urges that an 

 immediate decision be made to carry on the work of the observatory. 



" That the committee, having considered Dr. Adams's letter to the President of the 

 New Zealand Institute, is of opinion that the scope of the committee should be enlarged 

 to cover matters relating to New Zealand's observatories, and that the committee should 

 be empowered to make recommendations in the name of the Institute for unifying the 

 work and control of such observatories. That in order to carry out such larger 

 functions the committee be given power to co-opt other suitable scientific gentlemen 

 to aid in their deliberations. That the permanency of such a committee be considered 

 at the next annual meeting of the Board." 



The following is a report of the Observatory Committee, held on the 25th June : — 



" A. Samoan Observatory. — The committee, having heard of Professor Angenheister's 

 early retirement from the post of Director of Apia Observatory, deputes Drs. 

 C. Coleridge Farr and C. E. Adams to approach the President of the Institute with a 

 view of urging upon the Minister of External Affairs the urgent necessity of appointing 

 a successor. The committee recommends that a committee of selection be set up, 

 consisting of Sir A. Schuster, Dr. Chree, and G. W. Walker, F.R.S., such selection 

 committee to consider the claims of Messrs. Kidson and Johnston. The committee 

 further suggests that an Assistant Director is urgently required at Samoa, and that this 

 assistant could probably be obtained in New Zealand. 



" B. Yale Offer. — The committee reiterates its original proposals of the 9th April, 

 and is of the opinion that the acceptance of this offer, together with the concentration 



