HALLEY S COMET : PHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS. QI 



only the average number was seen. At 2.30 on the morning 

 of the 19th the tail extended for a considerable distance above 

 the horizon, nearly up to the Milky Way, and on two occasions 

 I saw a faint sharp line pass like a flash of lightning at right 

 angles to the tail just near the extremity. The length of the 

 flash was about as wide as the tail, viz., 2° or 3°. 



The light from the tail was always strongly polarised. 



I have to express my thanks to Professor Rindl and to the 

 students of the College for their very efficient assistance in 

 the arduous task of taking many hundreds of observations 

 Although the results are negative they are of interest as 

 showing that the presence of a comet's tail has no influence on 

 terrestial phenomena. The question as to whether we actually 

 passed through the comet's tail is, as far as I am aware, not 

 definitely proved. 



Perhaps Mr. Innes' theory that the earth would exert a 

 radiation pressure and drive it away is correct. It is to be 

 hoped that astronomical observations will be published which 

 will clearly indicate the actual relations of the earth and the 

 tail of the comet at about the i8th of May. 



HIGHER EDUCATION OF NATIVES. — Mr. K. A. 



Hobart Houghton, in the December issue of United Empire, 

 appeals for practical aid in connection wnth the establishment 

 of a College for the Higher Education of Natives, which it 

 is proposed to build at Fort Hare, near Lovedale, on a farm of 

 about 700 acres which has been secured for the purpose. The 

 control of the College will be in the hands of the Governing" 

 Council, whereon wull be represented the Government, the 

 Founders (European and Native), the University, and the 

 Churches co-operating in the movement. In connection with 

 the College hostels will be built by the Anglican, the Wesleyan, 

 and the Presbyterian churches. A sum of £50,000 in all is 

 required, whereof £40,000 has already been promised, £18,000 

 of this having been subscribed by natives. This sum has been 

 placed in the hands of a Board of Trustees, the Rev. Principal 

 Henderson being chairman, with the following colleagues : 

 Hon. J. W. Sauer, Senator Col. W. E. Stanford^ C.M.G.. Col. 

 the Hon. C. P. Crewe, C.B., Senator the Hon. W. P. 

 Schreiner, K.C., Rev. Prof. J. I. Marais, D.D.. Dr. N. Mac- 

 Vicar, and Messrs. J. G. Weir, N. C. Thompson, J. Tengo 

 Tabavu. S. P. Gasa, and K. A. Hobart Houghton. 



